Diagnosis of hemorrhagic diseases; evaluation of procedures. I

Careful and complete history and physical examination are essential in the diagnosis of diseases characterized by hemorrhage and are more reliable than laboratory tests for the prediction of the tendency to bleed at the time of surgical operation. Specific questions should be asked about bleeding from various anatomical sites, allergic manifestations, diet, and exposure to poisons and chemical substances. Because hemorrhagic diseases may be hereditary, it is necessary to obtain a family history. If there is a personal or family history of abnormal bleeding, the examiner should obtain exact details about the events immediately preceding the bleeding episodes, the character and duration of the hemorrhage and the response to therapy. The history is particularly important in the case of patients who are to have operation. Failure to obtain a history of past bleeding episodes may be catastrophic. In patients with bleeding tendencies who require operation, the history is valuable in predicting the severity of the bleeding. Physical examination including examination of retina, breast and pelvic organs will often detect evidence of lesions that are helpful in the diagnosis of the primary diseases of which the hemorrhage is a manifestation. The location, distribution, character and number of hemorrhagic lesions are of value in diagnosis and in prognosis.