Disseminated intravascular coagulation as a complication of ventricular catheter placement. Case report.

A child who developed generalized bleeding immediately after placement of a ventriculoperitoneal shunt was found to have evidence of disseminated intravascular coagulation (DIC). Infusion of fresh frozen plasma was followed promptly by improvement in laboratory values and cessation of bleeding. Complications of the acute bleeding episode included intraventricular hemorrhage, loss of 50% of the red cell volume into subcutaneous tissues, and transient peritoneal irritation. Defibrination syndrome (that is, DIC) due to release of tissue thromboplastin is a recognized complication of trauma, particularly with brain injury. Defibrination can be induced in experimental systems with administration of very small amounts of thromboplastin, which is present in high concentration in brain tissue. This has not been described previously with minor neurosurgical procedures. The diagnosis of DIC should be considered if excessive bleeding occurs after any brain insult, since early recognition and restoration of normal hemostasis by replacement of clotting factors should prevent major complications due to ongoing hemorrhage.