Defibrination Syndrome - Symptom, Treatment and cause of Defibrination Syndrome

DESCRIPTION of Defibrination Syndrome

Life threatening abnormality of blood clotting.

CAUSEs of Defibrination Syndrome

Very severe infection or shock after an accident may cause inappropriate blood clotting within arteries and veins. This causes the level of fibrinogen in the blood to drop to a low level. Fibrinogen is essential for the clotting of blood, so patients with this critical problem, then start to bleed profusely. Rarely may follow childbirth.

Defibrination Syndrome SYMPTOMS

After suffering excessive internal clotting which may affect their brain, heart, lungs, limbs and other organs, patients start to bleed excessively internally (eg. into the gut and kidney), externally(eg. intractable nose bleeds) and into the skin (eg. massive bruises).

INVESTIGATIONS for Defibrination Syndrome

Diagnosed by specific blood tests.

TREATMENT options for Defibrination Syndrome

Rapid transfusion of freshly donated compatible blood and other blood concentrates to stop bleeding, heparin given intravenously to stop abnormal clotting, and treating the underlying cause of the syndrome if possible.

Defibrination Syndrome COMPLICATIONS

Permanent organ damage common in survivors.

Defibrination Syndrome PROGNOSIS

Significant mortality rate.