HEMORRHAGE IS the greatest problem the surgeon has to contend with in tonsil and adenoid surgery. In the past various procedures have been used to control bleeding. Today with improved technique1 and an understanding of the clotting mechanism, bleeding should be less of a problem.
This article deals with the coagulation factors and their control. The present day concept of coagulation factors had its introduction through the International Congress on Thrombosis and Embolism which met in Switzerland in 1954. The committee was renamed the International Committee for the Nomenclature of Blood Clotting Factors. This group of scientists from 15 countries adopted the roman numeral to designate coagulation factors. As a result of this committee's work, the various coagulation components have been classified into 13 groups designated factors I through XIII2 (Figure). Note that platelets (Table) are not included in this list.
Of the 13 blood clotting factors,