*Hypercoagulability / Thrombophilia*

A hypercoagulable state can predispose a patient to deep vein thrombosis (DVT), pulmonary embolism (PE), stroke, and recurrent miscarriage. Causes include disorders of platelets, vessel walls, systemic disease and well as genetic and environmental factors (10).

#### *Haemophiliae and other Bleeding Diatheses*

Disorders of coagulation factors tend to present with haemarthroses and muscle haematomas. Patients with platelet disorders more commonly present with skin bruising, epistaxis or menorrhagia. Von Willebrand's Disease is the most common inherited coagulopathy; other forms are rare, apart from Haemophilia A and B. The most common acquired coagulation disorders are disseminated intravascular coagulation (DIC), liver disease and vitamin K deficiency although disorders discussed elsewhere in this chapter are more common in the setting of cardiac surgery.
