04 · Disseminated Intravascular Coagulation — Step 01 of 05 · See it
Both faces at once
DIC shows thrombosis and bleeding simultaneously. When a septic or traumatized patient starts doing both, think DIC.
The clotting face
- • Microvascular thrombosis and ischemia
- • Mottled, dusky extremities
- • Worsening organ dysfunction
The bleeding face
- • Oozing from lines and puncture sites
- • Ecchymosis and expanding bruises
- • Mucosal or wound bleeding
Common triggers
- Sepsis / severe infection
- Trauma and massive tissue injury
- Malignancy, especially acute promyelocytic leukemia
- Obstetric catastrophes (abruption, amniotic fluid embolism, HELLP)
- Severe pancreatitis
- Transfusion reactions and hemolysis
- Vascular catastrophes (aortic aneurysm, giant hemangioma)
Tip: ← → keys move between steps.