Blood Clotting Process

Blood clotting [Coagulation process]

I think I was at Cedars and we dispensed a drug used by Hemophiliacs 

[[Hemophilia B is the second most common type of hemophilia. 1,2. It is also known as factor IX deficiency, or Christmas disease. It was originally named “Christmas disease” after the first person diagnosed with the disorder back in 1952.]]

So, I went to the medical library and learned about the process [steps taken] for blood to clot. Each step needs an enzyme to begin the next step & if one of those steps does not take place, then the blood doesn't clot. If you are a Hemophiliac your blood doesn't clot, so rough tumble and play can be fatal, there is an accident, or you get cut.

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The clotting factors are:

Factor I (fibrinogen)

Factor II (prothrombin)

Factor III (tissue thromboplastin or tissue factor)

Factor IV (ionized calcium)

Factor V (labile factor or proaccelerin)

Factor VII (stable factor or proconvertin)

Factor VIII (antihemophilic factor). 

Factor IX (plasma thromboplastin component or the Christmas factor)

Factor X (Stuart-Prower factor)

Factor XI (plasma thromboplastin antecedent)

Factor XII (Hageman factor)

Factor XIII (fibrin-stabilizing factor).

The liver uses vitamin K to produce some of the factors such as Factors II, VII, IX, and X. Normally, vitamin K can be consumed through the diet from plant and animal sources. The normal flora of the intestine also produces vitamin K.

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Blood Clotting Process

Hemostasis is a way of the body to stop injured blood vessels from bleeding. One of the most important parts of hemostasis is the clotting of the blood. Subsequently, the body needs to control the mechanisms to control and limit clotting. These include dissolving excess clots that are not needed anymore. When there is an abnormality in any part of the system that controls bleeding, it can lead to hemorrhage or excessive clotting. These are potentially life-threatening.

Too much clotting can lead to stroke and heart attacks because blood clots can travel and clog the vessels. On the other hand, poor clotting can lead to severe blood loss even with just a slight injury to the blood vessels.

Hemostasis has three major processes namely the constriction of blood vessels, activity of the platelets, and activity of the proteins found in blood (clotting factors).

* Rat poison contains the same chemical as in Coumadin and Heparin which thins the blood; essentially it causes the rats bleed to death [I know :(]

Doctors hate to prescribe Coumadin because it entails testing the blood clotting time. These patients require constant monitoring.  Should the blood be too thin or not clot, the patient could bleed to death internally.

IV plug or Open Line

Okay, so pictured is an open line. If you are admitted to the hospital, one of these might be inserted in case a quick dose is needed. Something like combative behavior, a seizure or the like, the line is already inserted and medication can be given right away.

Blood backs up in the clear area, if you're admitted to the hospital then Heparin is used to flush out the tube to keep it clear or Sodium Chloride. When Dennis Quaid had his twins at Cedars, they were given to high of a dose and they almost bled to death. At the time Bayer, the manufacturer gave each little vial of a different strength a colored cap, but the colors were too similar increasing the chances for a mix-up.

Dennis Quaid story 

The new vials

When I was at Cedars they were not like this; I believe they were different variations of Brown. 

Anyway, super interesting to me. It's very miraculous when you think about how quick blood clots, when there are several steps involved .... happening so quickly.
 

June 27, 2022

I just learned in my Cancer class, that the Liver produces the clotting factors, so if you have any liver problems, cirrhosis from drinking or cancer then your clotting will be effected. That's really a horrible secondary result of the primary illness.