In the management of disseminated intravascular coagulation (DIC), prompt identification and immediate intervention are crucial. Eric Zack, a staff/charge nurse at Rush University Medical Center and clinical assistant professor at Loyola University in Chicago, presented on DIC as part of the 48th Annual Oncology Nursing Society Congress. According to Zack, early signs and symptoms of DIC can include chest pain, shortness of breath, deep vein thrombosis, and neuronal symptoms. Other symptoms include oozing blood from any body part, bleeding gums, prolonged menses, and anxiety. Infection and sepsis are the most common causes of this blood clotting disorder, but malignancies such as acute myeloid leukemia and liver disease resulting in liver failure can also cause DIC. Nurses should monitor for cardiogenic shock, hypotension, hypoxia, hypovolemia, and oliguria and assess and document any signs of hemorrhage and thrombosis. The ideal first management strategy is to treat the underlying causes. For nurses operating at the clinical bedside level, understanding DIC’s symptoms and complexities is critical. This knowledge ensures that they can recognize the condition and respond accordingly.
