Disseminated Intravascular Coagulation, A Simple Guide To The Condition, Diagnosis, Treatment And Related Conditions

This book describes Disseminated Intravascular Coagulation, Diagnosis and Treatment and Related DiseasesThis is a complicated subject but I have tried to make it as simple as possible. DIC is excessive clotting accompanied by excessive bleeding. Disseminated intravascular coagulation (DIC) is a life threatening disorder in which small blood clots are produced throughout the bloodstream, blocking small blood vessels.
The higher quantity of clotting uses up the platelets and clotting factors required to control bleeding, resulting in excessive bleeding. There are a number of possible causes, such as infection and surgery. In the early stages of the disorder, DIC causes the blood to clot excessively. As a result, blood clots may reduce blood flow and block blood from reaching bodily organs. As the disorder progresses, platelets and clotting factors, the substances in the blood responsible for forming clots, are used up.
When this happens, the patient will begin to experience excessive bleeding. DIC is a serious disorder that can lead to death. When the patient is injured, proteins in the blood that form blood clots travel to the injury site to help stop bleeding. If these proteins become abnormally active throughout the body, the patient could develop DIC. When the proteins used in the normal clotting process become overly active, it can cause DIC.
Some less frequent causes of disseminated intravascular coagulation are:1. Extremely low body temperature (hypothermia)2. Venomous snake bites3. PancreatitisIn some patients with DIC, many small blood clots are produced in the blood vessels. Some of these clots can block the vessels and stop the normal blood supply to organs such as the liver, brain, or kidneys. The loss of blood flow can injury and cause major damage to the organs.
In other cases of DIC, the clotting proteins in the blood are consumed. The patient may have a high risk of serious bleeding from the loss of clotting proteins, even from a minor injury or without injury. The patient may also start to spontaneously bleed. Symptoms:Excessive bleeding, occasionally from multiple locations on the body, is one of the more common symptoms of DIC. Bleeding from the mucosal tissue and other external areas may occur.
Also, disseminated intravascular coagulation may cause internal bleeding. Other symptoms are:1. Blood clots2. Drop in blood pressure3. Easy bruisingDiagnosisDisseminated intravascular coagulation may be identified through different tests related to the levels of platelets, clotting factors, and other blood components1. Fibrin degradation product2. Full blood cell count from a blood smear3. Full blood cell count from a sample4.
Platelet count5. Partial thromboplastin time6. D-dimer test7. Serum fibrinogen8. Prothrombin timeTreatmentDisseminated intravascular coagulation treatment depends on what is causing the disorder. To treat the clotting problem, the patient may be given an anticoagulant called heparin to reduce clotting. Heparin may not be administered if the patient have a severe lack of platelets or are bleeding excessively.
People with acute DIC require hospitalization, often in an intensive care unit (ICU)Supportive treatments may be:1. Plasma transfusions to replace blood clotting factors if a lot of bleeding is occurring.2. Blood thinner medicine (heparin) to prevent blood clotting if a lot of clotting is occurring. Infection will need antibiotics, and obstetric complications may need interventionGenerally, patients with DIC should not be treated with antifibrinolytic agents.
Patients with DIC with severe bleeding could be treated with lysine analogues, such as tranexamic acid. TABLE OF CONTENTIntroductionChapter 1 Disseminated Intravascular CoagulationChapter 2 ...