Fletcher Allen, a Vermont university hospital and medical center, serves all of
Vermont and the northern New York region. Located in Burlington, Fletcher Allen is a regional, academic healthcare center and teaching hospital in alliance with the University of Vermont.
Who Should See a Coagulation Specialist?
There are two types of patients who can be served by a coagulation specialist team. These include patients with:
- Abnormal bleeding (bleeding disorders)
- Patients who form clots where they should not exist (thrombosis)
Abnormal Bleeding
The first category, people with abnormal bleeding, includes patients with hereditary bleeding disorders like hemophilia or von Willebrand's disease, but there are other rare disorders that can cause abnormal bleeding. Abnormal bleeding can include things like excessive nosebleeds or bruising, heavy menstrual periods that are not explained by other causes and bleeding after surgery.
Blood Clots
The second category includes patients who have had blood clots in their veins (venous thrombosis) or other types of abnormal clots occurring for unknown reasons. Venous thrombosis can occur in the leg veins (deep vein thrombosis) or in the lung (pulmonary embolus). Patients with inherited abnormalities that predispose to abnormal clotting (such as factor V Leiden or protein C deficiency), might also benefit from seeing a coagulation specialist. Some of these patients have a personal history of abnormal clotting, and others do not.
If you have questions about whether you should be seen by a coagulation specialist, ask your physician or other health care provider.
Best wishes for good health,
Mary Cushman, MD, MSc
Fletcher Allen Hematologist
Professor of Medicine, University of Vermont College of Medicine
