In a patient with disseminated intravascular coagulation (DIC), which medication should the nurse anticipate administering?

• A. Heparin
• B. Vitamin K
• C. Mefoxin
• D. Simvastatin

Answer: (A)

In DIC, the coagulation system is in overdrive, forming clots while consuming platelets and clotting factors. The goal is to dampen the abnormal clotting to prevent microvascular obstruction and organ damage, while addressing the underlying trigger. Heparin reduces ongoing thrombin generation and activity of factor Xa by enhancing antithrombin III, which helps slow the formation of clots and can break the cycle of consumption. This makes heparin the appropriate choice when there is evidence of ongoing thrombosis and not in the setting of uncontrolled bleeding. The nurse would monitor coagulation labs (aPTT), platelets, fibrin degradation products, and assess for bleeding while on therapy.

Vitamin K is not the treatment here because DIC is a consumption coagulopathy, not a vitamin K deficiency; giving vitamin K won’t correct the ongoing consumption of clotting factors. Mefoxin and simvastatin don’t address the coagulation abnormalities in DIC and are not part of its management.