The only use of Vit K is in prophylaxis and treatment of bleeding due to deficiency of clotting factors in the following situations:
Dietary deficiency.
Prolonged antimicrobial therapy.
Obstructive jaundice or malabsorption syndromes.
Liver disease.
Newborns: Menadione (Vit K3) should not be used for this purpose.
Overdose of oralanticoagulants.
Prolonged high dose salicylate therapy causes hypoprothrombinemia.
Caution
:
Manadione and its water soluble derivatives can cause haemolysis in patients with G6PD deficiency and neonates. It is not advised to use Menadione because of poor efficacy and higher toxicity.
Side Effect
:
Rapid i.v. injection of emulsified Vit K produced flushing, breathlessness, a sense of constriction in the chest, fall in BP, few deaths are on record.
