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DIC (Disseminated intravascular coagulation) Causes and Risks:
Disseminated intravascular coagulation occurs when the blood clotting mechanisms are activated throughout the body instead of being localized to an area of injury. Circulating platelets form small blood clots throughout the body, and eventually the blood clotting factors are used up and not available to form clots at sites of tissue injury. Clot dissolving mechanisms are also increased, and generalized bleeding takes place. DIC may be stimulated by many factors including infection in the blood by bacteria or fungus, severe tissue injury as in burns and head injury , cancer , reactions to blood transfusions, and obstetrical complications such as retained placenta after delivery.
Risk factors are recent sepsis , recent injury or trauma, recent surgery or anesthesia, complications of labor and delivery, leukemia or disseminated cancer, recent blood transfusion reaction , and severe liver disease . The incidence is 1 out of 10,000 people.
Prevention:
Get prompt treatment for conditions known to precipitate the disorder.
Symptoms:
- severe bleeding from many sites in the body
- thrombosis formation evidenced by bluish coloration of the fingers
- sudden onset of bruising
Signs and Tests:
This disease may also alter the results of the following tests:
Treatment:
The objective of treatment is to determine the underlying cause of DIC and provide treatment for it.
Replacement therapy of the coagulation factors is achieved by platelet transfusion and by cryoprecipitate to replace fibrinogen . Fresh frozen plasma may replace other coagulation factors. Heparin, a medication used to prevent thrombosis, is sometimes used in combination with replacement therapy.
Prognosis:
The underlying disease that causes the bleeding disorder will predict the probable outcome. If bleeding is severe, the patient may not survive long enough for the therapy to have an effect.
Complications:
Call Your Healthcare Provider:
Go to the emergency room or call the local emergency number (such as 911) if continued bleeding of unknown cause is present.
Necrosis can occur any time there is abnormal coagulation within the blood vessels. In this person, all circulation to the toes and front part of the foot has ceased and gangrene has developed in the toes. This condition in infants may follow infection with meningococci, generalized sepsis, and disseminated intravascular coagulation.
Purpura is a condition characterized by bleeding into the skin or other tissue. Purpura fulminans is a rapidly progressive form of purpura. It usually occurs in children and frequently results in death. This picture shows a critically ill child with purpura fulminans on the lower extremities.
Infection by the meningococcus organism causes damage to the blood vessels with subsequent clotting within the vessels. This causes loss of blood flow to tissue, which results in discoloration and tissue death.
Insufficient blood flow has caused tissue death (necrosis) and gangrene of the middle two toes, which have become black.
Meningococcemia is a life-threatening infection that occurs when the meningococcus, Neisseria meningitidis, invades the blood stream. There is usually bleeding into the skin (petechiae and purpura), and the tissue in these areas may die (become necrotic or gangrenous). If the patient survives, the areas heal with scarring.
Meningococcemia is a life-threatening infection that occurs when the meningococcus, Neisseria meningitidis, invades the blood stream. Bleeding into the skin (petechiae and purpura) may occur. The tissue in areas may die (become necrotic or gangrenous). If the person survives, the areas heal with scarring.
Meningococcemia is a life-threatening infection that occurs when the meningococcus, Neisseria meningitidis, invades the blood stream. There is usually bleeding into the skin (petechiae and purpura), and the tissue in these areas may die (become necrotic or gangrenous). If the patient survives, the areas heal with scarring. This picture demonstrates more hemorrhage and little tissue death.
Meningococcemia is a life-threatening infection that occurs when the bacteria, Neisseria meningitidis, invades the blood stream. Bleeding into the skin (petechiae and purpura) typically occurs and the tissue may die (become necrotic or gangrenous). If the patient survives, the areas heal with scarring.
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