Word parts
What it means
DIC is always set off by another serious problem, such as sepsis, major trauma, cancer, or pregnancy problems such as placental abruption. Small clots block blood flow to organs, and once platelets and clotting factors run out, the client can bleed from many places at once. Labs show low platelets and fibrinogen, long clotting times (PT and aPTT) and a high D-dimer.
For the nurse
Check for bleeding from gums, IV sites, urine and stool, and for signs of organ damage. Give blood products as ordered, avoid injections and other skin punctures when possible, and handle the client gently.
At a glance
| Spanish | coagulación intravascular diseminada |
|---|---|
| Also written | DIC |
Related terms
hemorrhage
A large loss of blood from a blood vessel, inside the body or out of it.
sepsis
A severe whole-body response to an infection that damages the body's own organs.
platelet
A tiny cell fragment in the blood that sticks together at a wound to help form a clot.
thrombocytopenia
A blood platelet count below normal, under 150,000/mm3.