Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jul 2, 2026
Murine Model of Metastatic Liver Tumors in the Setting of Ischemia Reperfusion Injury
Published on: August 30, 2019
An unexpected death after low anterior resection due to disseminated intravascular coagulation: A case report
Jurij Ales Kosir1, Mensur Salihovic2, Primoz Sever1
1Department of Abdominal Surgery, UMC Ljubljana, Zaloška Cesta 7, 1000, Ljubljana, Europe, Slovenia.
Introduction:
Disseminated intravascular coagulation (DIC) is a blood clotting disorder that is characterized by intravascular thrombi formation and exhaustion of platelets and coagulation factors resulting in diffuse hemorrhage and multiple organ dysfunction.
Presentation Of Case:
We present a case report of a previously healthy middle-aged patient who was treated by low anterior resection for rectal carcinoma and suddenly went into unexpected circulatory shock on the 7th postoperative day. Despite our resuscitation efforts, he succumbed to the disease. The postmortem examination showed findings consistent with DIC.
Discussion:
The cause for DIC in this patient may be multifactorial. Sepsis, tumor-related factors and hereditary predisposition may have played a role. The role of blood components in treatment is not fully understood as they may worsen the inflammatory response.
Conclusion:
DIC can be the presenting sign of unrecognized sepsis and it can occur in all surgical patients. Even with prompt treatment, the disease can have a fatal course.
