Vitamin K deficiency in critically ill patients

Maintaining hemostasis balance in critically ill patients is one of the most complex clinical challenges. Among many factors influencing coagulation, vitamin K is an essential cofactor in synthesis of key proteins of blood clotting system. Vitamin K deficiency in ICU patients is still a largely underestimated problem, and clinical approaches are limited to vitamin K correction only in patients with hemorrhagic complications via intake of vitamin K antagonists. This review is devoted to vitamin K deficiency in critically ill patients, including risk factors, prevention and treatment.