Causes, Risk Factors, And Complications Of Disseminated Intravascular Coagulation (DIC)

Surgery

An individual who undergoes invasive or significant surgery is at an increased risk of developing disseminated intravascular coagulation following the procedure. Surgical stress following a major procedure is known to induce early system-wide leukocytosis, elevated cortisol levels, and adrenaline administration during the process. Systemic inflammatory response syndrome (SIRS) may develop due to the effects of surgical stress, which is known to throw off the healthy regulation of certain types of cytokines. This condition may progress into full-blown septicemia in patients within a day of their surgery. Upregulation of chemical mediators' actions can cause the affected individual to go into a hypercoagulable state. This is what triggers disseminated intravascular coagulation.

Any patient who undergoes a surgical procedure involving a large blood loss like cardiac surgeries is at an increased risk of developing this condition. Acute large volume blood loss and the administration of subsequent blood transfusions within a limited period can trigger it as well. Patients who have an acute hemorrhage during surgery experience an abnormal and exaggerated reaction involving the coagulation cascade's activation and upregulation. This can result in disseminated intravascular coagulation.

Delivered A Baby

Specific individuals who have recently delivered a baby are at an increased risk of developing disseminated intravascular coagulation. Some complications that occur in a woman who has given birth to a child are associated with the development of this condition. They include placental abruption, severe preeclampsia, eclampsia, retained dead fetus, acute fatty liver of pregnancy, amniotic fluid embolism, placenta previa, HELLP syndrome, delayed miscarriage, and septicemia. Several alterations occur in clotting factors and other substances involved with the clotting process during a woman's pregnancy. These alterations result in an average elevation of clotting factors and a mild hypercoagulable state that usually disseminates within several months following childbirth.

When a complication involving a massive hemorrhage during or following childbirth occurs, the excessive blood loss combined with existing hypercoagulability can trigger disseminated intravascular coagulation. In such cases, the body experiences widespread fibrin displacement due to system-wide activation of the coagulation cascade. Clots form in the microvessels and can cause organic failure.