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Correct Answer: 15,000/mm3
the question asks to identify which platelet count puts a patient at serious risk of bleeding. here are the provided options:
1. 15,000/mm3
2. 50,000/mm3
3. 100,000/mm3
4. 145,000/mm3
to determine which count indicates a serious risk of bleeding, it's important to understand normal platelet count levels and their implications. in a healthy individual, the normal platelet count ranges from 150,000 to 450,000 platelets per microliter of blood. platelets play a crucial role in blood clotting and maintaining hemostasis. when platelet counts drop below normal levels, the risk of bleeding increases, although the severity of the risk depends on how low the platelet count is.
according to medical guidelines, a platelet count:
- **above 100,000/mm3** is considered safe for most surgical procedures and usually does not pose a significant risk of bleeding.
- **between 50,000 and 100,000/mm3** may be associated with increased bleeding risk after serious injuries or major surgeries but is generally not associated with spontaneous bleeding.
- **below 50,000/mm3** begins to increase the risk of bleeding, particularly if it falls much lower.
- **below 20,000/mm3** puts a patient at high risk of spontaneous bleeding, which can be severe and life-threatening.
given the options in the question:
- a count of **145,000/mm3** and **100,000/mm3** are both within or close to the normal range and do not pose a risk of spontaneous bleeding.
- a count of **50,000/mm3** is lower but generally not low enough to cause spontaneous bleeding, though caution is needed in situations where bleeding could be provoked.
- a count of **15,000/mm3** is critically low and significantly increases the risk of spontaneous bleeding. this level of thrombocytopenia (low platelet count) requires immediate medical attention and intervention to prevent potentially serious complications.
therefore, out of the given options, a platelet count of **15,000/mm3** puts a patient at serious risk of bleeding. this level of platelet count is considered a medical emergency in many cases, requiring treatments such as platelet transfusions or other interventions to stabilize the patient's condition and prevent severe bleeding episodes.
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