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Understanding Disseminated Intravascular Coagulopathy

Disseminated intravascular coagulation (DIC) is not a disease itself but rather a condition resulting from an underlying illness that causes abnormal clotting within small blood vessels throughout the body. It is characterized by low platelet count, prolonged clotting times, and evidence of microclotting and bleeding. DIC can be triggered by sepsis, trauma, cancer, shock, or other conditions and has high mortality rates. Nursing care focuses on reducing the risk of bleeding, maintaining skin integrity, monitoring for fluid imbalances, managing anxiety, and preventing complications by treating the underlying illness.

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Sara Sabra
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72 views1 page

Understanding Disseminated Intravascular Coagulopathy

Disseminated intravascular coagulation (DIC) is not a disease itself but rather a condition resulting from an underlying illness that causes abnormal clotting within small blood vessels throughout the body. It is characterized by low platelet count, prolonged clotting times, and evidence of microclotting and bleeding. DIC can be triggered by sepsis, trauma, cancer, shock, or other conditions and has high mortality rates. Nursing care focuses on reducing the risk of bleeding, maintaining skin integrity, monitoring for fluid imbalances, managing anxiety, and preventing complications by treating the underlying illness.

Uploaded by

Sara Sabra
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd

LB  

2010

 
Disease: Disseminated Intravascular Coagulopath (DIC)
What is it? Not a disease but a sign of an underlying condition. altered hemostatic
mechanism which tiny clots form within the microcirculation of the body
consuming platelets and clotting factors. Causing coagulation to fail and bleeding
to result. Characterized by low fibrinogen levels, prolonged PT (extrinsic
pathway), aPTT (intrinsic pathway), and thrombin time. Low platelet count and
elevated fibrin degradation products (d-dimers)
Who gets it? Triggered by SEPSIS, trauma, cancer, shock, abruption placentae, toxins, or
allergic reactions. mortality rates can exceed 80% of patients who develop DIC
Assessment? be aware of pts at risk for DIC. (SEPSIS and ACITE PROMYEOLOCYTIC
LEUKEMIA) bleeding or thrombi
Presenting signs and Organs affected by either excessive clot formation (with result ischemia to
symptoms that organ) or bleeding. Bleeding from mucous membranes, venipuncture sites,
GI/GU tracts. Organ dysfunction, renal failure, CNS. Initially a decrease in
platelet count, then organ involvement, then frank bleeding.
Diagnosis Studies
Major Nursing risk for deficient fluid volume rt bleeding
diagnoses for patient: risk for impaired skin integrity rt ischemia or bleeding.
risk for imbalanced fluid volume, ineffective tissue perfusion, death anxiety
Potential Death
complications
Major goals for this Maintaining hemodynamic status
patient? Intact skin and oral mucosa
fluid balance and tissue perfusion
enhanced coping
preventing complications
Labs fibrinogen, PT, aPTT, clotting factors, Platelet count. d-dimer
Nursing Interventions
Interventions use interventions which reduce risk of bleeding, maintain skin integrity, monitoring
for imbalanced fluid volume, assessing for ineffective tissue perfusion, reducing fear
and anxiety, monitoring and managing potential complications.
Care Management is treatment of underlying Disease. Correct the 2ndary effects of
tissue ischemia by:
• improving O2, replacing FLUIDS, admin vasopressor medications. Platelets,
coagulation factors, fresh frozen plasma.
Evaluation pt has stable hemodynamic status and VS; remains free of bleeding episodes.
Demonstrates intact skin and oral mucous membranes w/o evidence of breakdown.
Has no minimal edema or evidence of thrombosis. Reports relief of anxiety and fears.
Treatment Vitamin K is administered for warfarin toxicity & Plasma.
Protamine sulfate is rearely needed for heparin toxicity because the half-life of
heparin is very short
FFP replaces vit K – dependent clotting factors in significant bleeding.
 

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