Consumptive coagulopathy- decreased platelets and clotting factors
Thromboplastin activates widespread clotting which causes organ ischemia
Healthy RBCs break apart when traveling in vessels with clots
Life-threatening
Too much and too little clotting
External or internal bleeding
Risk factors
- Liver disease
- Cancer
- Blood transfusion reaction
- Pancreatitis
- Pregnancy
- Recent surgery
- Hemangioma
Symptoms
- Bleeding
- Blood clots
- Bruising
- Shortness of breath
- Confusion
- Memory loss
- Fever
- Hematomas
- Petechiae
- Hypotension
- Multiorgan failure
Testing
- CBC (decreased hemoglobin & hematocrit, platelets, and fibrinogen)
- Prolonged PTT- slower clotting
- Increased d-dimer
- PT/INR is elevated
- A DIC assessment
- Platelet count, D-dimer, FDP, fibrinogen, PT, and APTT.
Nursing Interventions
- Assessment of bleeding
- Vital signs
- Fetal assessments
- Left side-lying
- 8 to 10 L/min oxygen
- Strict I & O (hematuria)
- Monitor labs
- RBC and platelets transfusion
- Medications
- Heparin
- Anticoagulant
- Antithrombin III
- Analgesics
- Narcotics