[A case of acute ischemia of the extremities in disseminated intravascular coagulation in an infant].

The authors report a case of diffuse intravascular coagulation occurring in a 15 day old infant suffering from several congenital malformations (meningocoele, megacolon and bilateral hydronephrosis). During reparative surgery, acute and symmetrical of the lower limbs developed in a context of shock and respiratory distress. Associated with a coagulopathy, it progressed towards the death of the child on the second postoperative day. The authors review the cases of gangrene of the extremities with diffuse intravascular coagulation occurring in the young child found in the literature, and discuss the factors which favourise its development.