Signs and Symptoms
Large purple discolorations caused by subcutaneous bleeding
Ecchymoses
DIC stands for...?
Disseminated Intravascular Coagulation
What is the main medication used to treat DIC?
Heparin
Formation of a clot within the deep vein
What is a deep vein thrombosis?
This is the number one priority in managing a patient with DIC.
This occurs to a patient's oxygen level when there is a blood clot in their lung
What is a decrease in oxygen/ hypoxia
This occurs during primary hemostasis
What is vasoconstriction? It occurs in the affected blood vessel, and platelets begin to form a platelet plug
What is the major adverse effect of heparin?
Bruising and bleeding risks
The 2 types of strokes
What is ischemic and hemorrhagic?
This is a blood product that we give to replace missing clotting factors in a patient who is bleeding due to DIC
what is Fresh Frozen Plasma (FFP)
Chest X-rays may reveal this finding in a patient with DIC
What is consolidation?
This part of hemostasis is suppressed in DIC
What is fibrinolysis?
This laboratory value should be closely monitored to guide transfusion and anticoagulant decisions in DIC management.
What is PT, aPTT, fibrinogen, and D-dimer?
How does DIC lead to ARDS?
Blood clots block blood flow and trigger an inflammatory response that damages the alveolar-capillary membrane
Nurses should closely monitor this vital sign trend as it may indicate early signs of shock in DIC
What are decreasing blood pressure and increasing heart rate (hypotension and tachycardia).
True or False: BUN and creatinine are increased in a patient with DIC
True, they increase due to blood clots cutting off oxygen supply to the kidneys
Where does hemostasis occur?
Hemostasis occurs at the site of vascular injury, specifically within the endothelium of damaged blood vessels.
What kind of transfusions can be used to manage DIC?
Platelet transfusions and plasma transfusions
With DIC, the formation of blood clots will...?
Clog blood vessels and halt the blood and oxygen supply to multiple organs
The nurse should teach the patient to avoid these two common medications because they interfere with platelet function
What are aspirin and nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAID's)
Retroperitoneal bleeding may cause these findings on an abdominal assessment
What is a firm and distended abdomen that is tender upon palpation
True or False: In disseminated intravascular coagulation (DIC), the formation of excessive clots increases the number of clotting factors and platelets.
False. In DIC, excessive clot formation uses up clotting factors and platelets, leading to a decrease in their availability throughout the body and increasing the risk of bleeding.
What does fresh frozen plasma restore?
Fibrinogen, prothrombin, and factors V, VII, IX, and X
Name 3 complications we discussed today
Stroke, shock, severe bleeding, ARDS, myocardial infarction, DVT, organ failure
Name two organs nurses must monitor closely for signs of failure in a patient with DIC.
What are the lungs and kidneys?