Vitamin K - Newborns

Front 1

The nurse should administer Vitamin K

Back 1

within 1 hour of birth

Front 2

Vitamin K is not

Back 2

actually required to make clotting factors, it is required to convert precursor proteins made in the liver into activated proteins with coagulant properties.

Front 3

Fetal Vitamin K levels are low due to

Back 3

poor placental transport and because the fetus lacks intestinal flora that synthesize vitamin K

Front 4

If no administration of Vitamin K,

Back 4

bleeding can occur from the GI tract, umbilicus, circumcision site and any puncture sites in some newborns

Front 5

Early VKDB occurs in

Back 5

0.25 to 1.7% of newborns

Front 6

Late VKDB occurs primarily in

Back 6

exclusively breast fed infants 2-12 weeks old who received no or inadequate vitamin K prophylaxis

Front 7

Infants with intestinal malabsorption

Back 7

defects are also at risk

Front 8

Late VKDB often manifests as sudden

Back 8

CNS hemorrhage and occurs in 4.4 to 7.2 per 100,000 births, oral Vit K decreases this risk - parenteral Vit K prevents the development of late VKDB in infants, except for those with severe malabsorption

Front 9

Oral is as effective as parenteral in the prevention of

Back 9

early VKDB.....failure has been observed with oral but not with parenteral.....risk of incomplete oral prophylaxis are at a higher risk for late

Front 10

Parenteral Vitamin K has been linked to

Back 10

childhood leukemia - there has been no association with IM and leukemia

Front 11

Because parenteral prevents VKDB in newborns and young infants, current recommendations are

Back 11

parenteral instead of oral

Front 12

In cases in which parents refuse parenteral Vit K, CPS

Back 12

recommends an oral dose of 2 mg of vitamin K with the fist feeding. This is repeated at 2 to 4 weeks and 6 to 8 weeks of age....with warning of increased risk

Front 13

IM administration (standard of practice)

Back 13

25 gauge needle
Clean skin warm water
90-degree angle
aspirate for blood - if blood - DISCARD
if no blood - slowly inject the medication

Front 14

Signs/Symptoms of bleeding

Back 14

tarry stools, hematuria, blood oozing from sites such as the umbilical cord - decreased Hgb and Hct