Let's see if I understand this. DIC uses up the clotting factors and that results in clots until the clotting factor is gone. Then the person starts bleeding because they don't have clotting factor. By giving heparin, we slow down the process of clotting because the blood is thinner. Because the person is making tiny clots that block small vessels, the heparin will stop the clots from forming.
By stopping the clots from forming, the heparin allows the body to start making clotting factors.
I remember my first patient in DIC, a young woman...and I was terrified I was going to lose her. It was back in the early 80's, at a small hospital, and the young OB GYNand his staff were literally shaking when they brought her to me in ICU. Its a very scary situation for sure.
There had been fetal demise and she had carried the baby to term, expelled it, in OB, then went into full blown DIC and numerous other complications, pulmonary edema, respiratory failuire, etc. It was touch and go my whole 12 hr shift and when her labs finally 'turned the corner' and the bleeding/other life threatening symptoms eased, I can still remember my relief (almost 20 yrs later.) This is one of my 'never forget' patients.
Thanks. 22 units of blood as many platlets, FFP nothing worked. She was doomed as it overwhelmed her body/sepsis. She had 2 surgeries to remove dying tissue and the surgeon said it was dying as he was cutting. We ended up taking her off life support and she died in 20 minutes. She was necrotic all the way up/entire body other than 1/2 of her face. Even the nurses and doctors were very disturbed. She died within 24 hours of the infection starting.
renerian
That is so hard, when you have a healthy, active parent in your life and is taken away so suddenly and unexpectedly 2 surgeries within 24 hours? Wow. How old was your Mom, if you don't mind me asking?
My mom died of DIC with fleshing eating bacterial infection from a small cut on her leg from a garbage can. Disgusting way to die. Most gruesome thing I ever saw in my life.
2 surgeries within 24 hours? Wow. How old was your Mom, if you don't mind me asking?
mattsmom81
4,516 Posts
I remember my first patient in DIC, a young woman...and I was terrified I was going to lose her. It was back in the early 80's, at a small hospital, and the young OB GYNand his staff were literally shaking when they brought her to me in ICU. Its a very scary situation for sure.
There had been fetal demise and she had carried the baby to term, expelled it, in OB, then went into full blown DIC and numerous other complications, pulmonary edema, respiratory failuire, etc. It was touch and go my whole 12 hr shift and when her labs finally 'turned the corner' and the bleeding/other life threatening symptoms eased, I can still remember my relief (almost 20 yrs later.) This is one of my 'never forget' patients.