Question

A maternity nurse is caring for a client with abruptio placentae and is monitoring the client for disseminated intravascular coagulopathy. Which assessment finding is least likely to be associated with disseminated intravascular coagulation?

a. Swelling of the calf in one leg
b. Prolonged clotting times
c. Decreased platelet count
d. Petechiae, oozing from injection sites, and
hematuria

Answer 1

Swelling of the calf in one leg is the least likely assessment finding to be associated with disseminated intravascular coagulation (DIC); it suggests thrombosis instead. DIC presents with prolonged clotting times, decreased platelet counts, and signs of bleeding.

Step-by-step explanation:

The assessment finding least likely to be associated with disseminated intravascular coagulation (DIC) in a client with abruptio placentae is swelling of the calf in one leg. This symptom is more indicative of a thrombosis issue such as deep vein thrombosis (DVT), rather than DIC. DIC is characterized by a system-wide coagulation disorder that leads to bleeding and can be identified by symptoms such as prolonged clotting times, decreased platelet counts, and visible signs of bleeding like petechiae, oozing from injection sites, and hematuria.