Question: Marcia Day, Age 41, Is Admitted To The Hospital With Multiple Traumas From A Motor Vehicle Accident. She Has Been Stabilized Surgically And Has Been In The Intensive Care Unit For 4 Days When She Begins To Bleed Form Her Intravenous Catheter Sites And Has Blood In Her Stool. She Also Has Poor Peripheral Circulation As Evidenced By Poor Capillary Refill …

Marcia Day, age 41, is admitted to the hospital with multiple traumas from a motor vehicle accident. She has been stabilized surgically and has been in the intensive care unit for 4 days when she begins to bleed form her intravenous catheter sites and has blood in her stool. She also has poor peripheral circulation as evidenced by poor capillary refill in her extremities. 1) Ms. Day has DIC. When the pathophysiology of DIC involves widespread clotting, why does it simultaneously involve hemorrhage? 2) Why is Ms. Day at high risk for multiple organ dysfunction?