The human body is normally in a balance/homeostasis between clotting and bleeding. Occasionally, this balance is disrupted, and patients are prone to either excessive clotting or excessive bleeding'both are problematic in the Neurosurgery ICU.

Coagulopathy usually refers to laboratory evidence of prolonged bleeding (such as elevated INR or PTT values). This can be intentional, e.g., a patient with atrial fibrillation who takes a medication called Coumadin, or can be secondary to liver disease or other disease states.

Coagulopathic patients may need to receive transfusions of blood products (specifically fresh frozen plasma or platelets) and/or vitamin K to correct their coagulopathy prior to having surgery or to prevent further bleeding. This is particularly important in patients who have bled into their brain (intracerebral hemorrhage).