Shock or a trauma situation can also stimulate DIC; one does not need to be infected with a microbe as Tommy was. The mechanism in noninfectious cases involves the release of tissue thromboplastin from damaged cells into the general circulation.For example, DIC can occur following childbirth (release of placental tissue thromboplastin ), during cancer degradation of tissue, or following crush injuries. Lack of blood flow to tissue during cardiovascular shock can lead to cell death ("infarcts" = cell death due to inadequate blood perfusion of the tissue) with release of cellular thromboplastin.