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Disseminated Intravascular Coagulation (also known as consumption coagulopathy) is a medical condition, where small blood clots disseminate through the blood, blocking small blood vessels and deplete the clotting factors required to keep bleeding under control. This condition starts with excessive clotting, commonly stimulated by a toxic substance in the bloodstream. Once the clotting factors are depleted, excessive bleedings occur. Disseminated intravascular coagulation in most cases starts abruptly and can be very severe. If this disorder appears after childbirth or surgery, the surfaces of torn or cut tissue can bleed uncontrollable and profusely. Bleeding can appear at the site of puncture or intravenous injections, and excessive bleeding may occur in the brain, skin, body’s cavities, GI, and muscles. At the same period of time, clots in small blood vessels may injure the kidney, in some cases permanently, so that the kidneys cannot produce urine. A physician orders different blood tests to monitor patients who are at high risk for disseminated intravascular coagulation. These procedures may determine the amount of platelets in blood samples has abruptly dropped and that the blood is taking a long period of time to clot. The diagnosis is determined if test results show diminished amount of clotting factor, large number of degradation substances from the breakup of clots and abnormally small clots. The underlying causes of this disorder should be found and corrected, whether it is a cancer, infections, or bstetric problems. The clotting disorders can subside when the cause is treated. Disseminated intravascular coagulation is considered to be life-threatening and usually requires treatment in the emergency room unless the underlying causes are corrected. Emergency cure is complex because the patient’s medical condition fluntuates rapidly between excessive bleeding and excessive clotting. Clotting and platelet factors can be transfused to replace depleted factors and stop excessive bleeding but the benefits of the platelets transfusion are short-lived. In some cases, Heparin is given to slow the process of clotting.
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