Activity Content
The clinical and economic consequences of serious bleeding in critically ill patients are significant. Uncontrolled hemorrhage is considered the leading cause of preventable death in the United States. Because health system formularies include many agents to promote and inhibit blood coagulation, pharmacists need to know how to use them safely and appropriately.
Transfusion of blood products is often required to manage serious bleeding in critically ill patients; however, there are significant risks associated with transfusion of blood products. Consequently, pharmacologic strategies, including aminocaproic acid, tranexamic acid, desmopressin, and recombinant activated factor VIIa, are being investigated for controlling bleeding and reducing the need for transfusions. Pharmacists practicing in the acute care setting must keep abreast of this evolving body of knowledge to ensure that these agents continue to be used appropriately. Pharmacists involved in medication order review and approval, development and implementation of clinical guidelines and protocols, and formulary decision-making, as well as clinical specialists practicing in critical care, surgical, and emergency care settings need access to current information on agents used to manage bleeding in critically ill patients.
This educational activity will examine conditions that may lead to bleeding and strategies for managing bleeding, including both conventional treatments and emerging therapeutic alternatives. Using patient case examples and an automated audience response system, faculty will engage participants in the clinical decision-making process involved in managing patients with critical bleeding.