From:
Steve Austin
Date: 2001-08-06 13:58:00 UTC
Subject: Re: [Ferret-Health-list] Disseminated intravascular
coagulation(Desperate)
DIC is something that develops in shock or like
conditions, and is not predictable before the event.
It is a cascade of events that involves a tissue activating
factor being made or introduced into the blood and
thus causing blood coagulation- which eventually depletes
coagulation factors (causes bleeding), low platelet counts,
causes a secondary fibrinolysis (break
down of fibrin) which eventually becomes uncontrolled
and the by products interfere with platelet function causing
a tendency to bleed especially at raw surfaces of freshly
cut tissue (like in surgical areas) and it fails to lyse the
fibrin fast enough with causes fibrin to build up
Fibrin deposits can cause tissue necrosis, damage to
organs like the kidneys and gangrene.
In humans certain cancers are more prone to causing DIC,
infections and a few other conditions.
The diagnosis of DIC involves some blood tests that
show the abnormal values. It is difficult to treat even in
humans unless the underlying cause can be treated. Supportive
care also involves very expensive products in humans
like fresh frozen plasma and clotting factors that are
depleted,
last efforts include using heparin (anticoagulant) to get
rid of the fibrin that is made and deposited in the small
blood vessels. However, the use of these products is not
going to stop the DIC, the underlying cause needs to be
treated, and this is near impossible if it progresses as fast
as
you described.
I would say, although rare, it is a possible complication
of surgery, and not much that could have been done
once it started.
Other causes could have been a bleeding disorder (if
ferrets get these), low platelet count before hand and
if platelets are being used faster than made and drop low
enough bleeding will occur. A CBC could help
prior to surgery.
Maybe the vets can answer if the increased estrogen from
adrenal tumors causes more problems with bleeding,
or in your case if the removal of the right adrenal gland and
that probably involved the vena cava, and therefore, more
chance of
bleeding post op?
Sorry for your loss
Patty
I have a question for the vets or ANYONE who knows the
answer to this question. I recently had a ferret (Popcorn)
go in for adrenal surgery. It turned out to be a bilateral.
He came through the surgery just fine and was doing just
fine until about 7:00am the next morning. They were doing
rounds and noticed he had some bruising. They started
giving him an anticoagulant(sp?) at this time. He was
closely watched with more anticoagulants. About 10:00 He
went into a coma. seeking an answer to. Is there a test
that you can do prior to surgery to test for this.
Linda and the furry ones
The Dook-N-Dance Ferret Shelter