This volume is the definitive clinical text reference on a topic of major concern to anesthesiologists. The opening section, on hemostatic mechanisms, covers such topics as hypercoagulation and thrombotic disorders and pharmacologic manipulation of both hemostasis and coagulation. A section on clinical evaluation of patients with hemostatic dysfunction addresses issues such as perioperative blood loss and medical instrumentation for intraoperative evaluation of hemostasis. A section on transfusion therapy includes chapters on infectious risks of transfusions and complications of transfusion therapy. In a section on alternatives to transfusion therapy, the authors discuss such issues as induced hypotension and blood substitutes. A final section on special concerns covers topics such as perioperative coagulopathy in the specific instances of massive transfusions, cardiac surgery, obstetrics, and neonates.