Multiorgan dysfunction in a gravid woman with placental abruption and disseminated intravascular coagulation

Abstract

The most frequent obstetrical cause of coagulation disorders as disseminated intravascular coagulation is placental abruption, which can be found in women without any apparent clinical disturbances or in the state of established preeclampsia. Hypertension occurs in 5-8% of all pregnancies and may be complicated by preeclampsia. Preeclampsia is a complex clinical syndrome with insufficiently clear pathophysiology based on the damage of the vascular endothelium. As a result of this, generalized endothelial disruption in preeclampsia, a multiorgan dysfunction, can develop, most frequently reflected in the clinical presentation with hematological and renal disturbances and with a disordered function of the liver and central nervous system. We are presenting a case of a gravid woman with poorly regulated hypertension that resulted from development of preeclampsia, later complicated by placental abruption and disseminated intravascular coagulation (DIC) with multi-organ dysfunction. The importance of rapid recognition of coagulation disorder and the attempt at surgical treatment aiming at removal of the triggering mechanisms of DIC was shown, suggesting all the symptomatic therapeutic measures would be ineffective. Although our patient was surgically treated in the phase of generalized disorder characterized by development of coma, acute respiratory distress syndrome and renal insufficiency when mortality was 70%, the recovery of functions of all involved organs was achieved, except for the renal function that required chronic haemodialysis treatment.

Keywords

• disseminated intravascular coagulation
• hypertension
• placental abruption
• multiorgan dysfunction