title: Vitamin K deficiency bleeding: a case study.
abstract: Vitamin K deficiency bleeding (VKDB), formerly known as hemorrhagic disease of the newborn (HDN), is a bleeding disorder in neonates that is caused by inadequate serum levels of vitamin K. Vitamin K is a nutrient essential for adequate function of the coagulation cascade. Certain internal and external factors place newborn infants at higher risk for VKDB. Therefore, vitamin K prophylaxis has become the standard of care for newborns. Although the American Academy of Pediatrics recommends the administration of vitamin K to newborns, some parents are choosing to withhold vitamin K administration at birth. This case study describes an infant who developed VKDB in the absence of vitamin K prophylaxis. Although parents ultimately have the right to choose whether or not to administer vitamin K, as healthcare professionals, it is important to provide education regarding the potential complications of withholding vitamin K and the signs of VKDB if vitamin K prophylaxis at birth is withheld.
authors.affiliation: Wake Forest Baptist Health (Mr Woods) and Novant Health Forsyth Medical Center (Ms Woods), Winston Salem, and Alamance Regional Medical Center, Burlington, North Carolina (Mrs Cederholm).
authors.forename: Christopher W
authors.initials: CW
authors.lastname: Woods
authors.forename: Amanda G
authors.initials: AG
authors.lastname: Woods
authors.forename: Carmen K
authors.initials: CK
authors.lastname: Cederholm
mesh_terms: D000933:Antifibrinolytic Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D018890:Chemoprevention; D004844:Epistaxis / Q000517:prevention & control; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D010290:Parents; D016312:Treatment Refusal; D014470:Umbilical Cord / Q000098:blood supply; D014812:Vitamin K / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D006475:Vitamin K Deficiency Bleeding / Q000451:nursing / Q000517:prevention & control*
chemical_list: D000933:Antifibrinolytic Agents; D014812:Vitamin K