Paper I
2014 September (Supplementary) (2010 Scheme) · 40 marks · 120 min

Question

Read the case history and answer the following questions. Mr.George aged 45 years was on maintenance dose of warfarin 5 mg /day for his ischaemic heart disease. Subsequently he developed joint pains for which he was administered tab. aspirin 300mg thrice daily after food. One week later he was brought to casualty in a state of shock due to severe haemetemesis.

  • (a) How will you explain haemetemesis in this patient. 2 mark(s)
  • (b) How it could have been prevented. 2 mark(s)
  • (c) How will you treat the present emergency 2 mark(s)
Q26 marksEssays

Answer

(a) Explanation of haematemesis Aspirin, an NSAID, was added to a patient already on maintenance warfarin. Aspirin potentiates the anticoagulant effect of warfarin through multiple mechanisms: it displaces warfarin from plasma protein binding sites (increasing free/active warfarin), it independently inhibits platelet aggregation (adding an antiplatelet effect on top of warfarin’s anticoagulant effect), and it damages the gastric mucosa directly (COX-1 inhibition reduces protective prostaglandins) — increasing the risk of peptic ulceration. The combined effect of enhanced anticoagulation plus gastric mucosal injury led to severe upper GI (peptic ulcer) bleeding, presenting as haematemesis and hypovolaemic shock.

(b) Prevention

  • Avoid aspirin/NSAIDs in patients on warfarin; use a safer analgesic such as paracetamol for joint pain instead
  • If an NSAID/antiplatelet is unavoidable, co-prescribe a gastroprotective agent (PPI) and monitor INR closely with dose adjustment
  • Educate the patient about drug interactions and to report any new medication to the treating physician

(c) Treatment of the emergency

  • Resuscitation: IV fluids, blood/blood product transfusion (packed red cells, fresh frozen plasma) to correct shock and coagulopathy
  • Stop warfarin and aspirin immediately
  • Reverse anticoagulation: Vitamin K (IV) and Fresh Frozen Plasma/Prothrombin Complex Concentrate for rapid correction of INR
  • Urgent endoscopy for localization and control of the bleeding source (endoscopic haemostasis)
  • IV Proton pump inhibitor infusion
  • Monitor vitals, haemoglobin, and coagulation parameters closely

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