Oncology Certified Nurse (OCN) Nursing Practice Test

What are some potential causes of DIC?

1. Surgical procedures and trauma

2. Delivery of a baby, infection, cancer

3. Genetic disorders and familial history

4. Overuse of anticoagulants

The correct answer is: Delivery of a baby, infection, cancer

The potential causes of disseminated intravascular coagulation (DIC) encompass a variety of clinical scenarios, and option B lists several significant triggers: delivery of a baby, infection, and cancer. In the context of DIC, the delivery of a baby can lead to this condition through mechanisms like amniotic fluid embolism or postpartum hemorrhage, which activate the coagulation cascade. Infections, particularly severe ones such as sepsis, can cause widespread inflammation and endothelial damage, further leading to DIC as the body attempts to manage the coagulation process. Cancer is another critical factor, as certain malignancies can release pro-coagulant substances or disrupt normal hemostatic processes, contributing to the development of DIC. Overall, these causes have a direct pathophysiological link to the activation of coagulation pathways and subsequent consumption of clotting factors, making them prominent triggers for DIC. The other options, while they may relate to coagulation disorders in general, do not specifically encompass the classic and most recognized causes of DIC in a clinical setting.