Agcaoili G A, Schooley K V, Johnson-Gray E, et al.
Cureus. 2025;17(7):e88728. doi:10.7759/cureus.88728
This case report highlights a rare but life-threatening complication of pregnancy: disseminated intravascular coagulation (DIC) following intrauterine fetal demise due to placental abruption. A 37-year-old woman presented with heavy vaginal bleeding and fetal demise at 32 weeks’ gestation. She rapidly developed signs of DIC, including severe hypofibrinogenemia, elevated INR, and progressive hemorrhagic shock. Emergency cesarean delivery was performed, and she received extensive resuscitation with blood products and supportive care in the ICU. The patient eventually recovered and was discharged on postoperative day 6. This case underscores the importance of early recognition and aggressive management of DIC to improve maternal outcomes in obstetric emergencies.
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Thank you to Cureus for publishing this important case and for advancing access to open medical literature in obstetrics and critical care.