In this episode of The Internet Book of Critical Care Podcast, Josh and Adam delve into disseminated intravascular coagulation (DIC), covering its pathophysiology, lab diagnosis, causes, and treatments. They discuss the importance of understanding the balance between procoagulation and anticoagulation, distinguishing between acute and chronic DIC, and recognizing the varied clinical manifestations from macrovascular thrombosis to hemorrhagic complications. The hosts review key lab tests, including CBC, INR, PT, PTT, fibrinogen, and D-dimer, while also addressing the complexities of interpreting these results in the context of critical illness, sepsis, and cirrhosis. They emphasize treating the underlying cause of DIC and caution against reflexively "fixing" lab abnormalities without clinical context, advocating for a thoughtful and conservative approach to management, including DVT prophylaxis when appropriate.
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