"Hemostasis"

     Hemostasis is defined as the arrest of bleeding. Hemostasis represents a finely tuned balance between procoagulant and anticoagulant forces. Traditionally, this process has been separated into primary (platelet component) vs. secondary (protein component). Hypercoagulable states are classified as primary (congenital) vs. secondary (acquired). Alternatively, hypercoagulable states may be viewed from the perspective of Virchow’s triad: impairment in vascular wall integrity, stasis of blood flow, and/or change in circulating coagulation factors. The classical view of coagulation tends to overlook the role of the endothelium in contributing to the hemostatic balance. The goal of this lecture is to emphasize the importance of the endothelium not only in mediating hemostasis, but also in dictating the focal nature of thrombotic disorders