A patient with suspected Disseminated Intravascular Coagulation (DIC) is admitted to the ICU. The nurse is reviewing the patient's lab results, which include negative D-dimer, low platelet count, prolonged PT and aPTT. The nurse understands that the patient is at high risk for which of the following complications?

A. Excessive bleeding and hemorrhage: Disseminated intravascular coagulation (DIC) initially involves widespread activation of clotting, consuming platelets and coagulation factors. The resulting consumption coagulopathy leads to low platelet counts, prolonged PT and aPTT, and an increased risk of spontaneous bleeding and hemorrhage. These lab findings indicate the patient is in the consumptive, hypocoagulable phase of DIC. B. Severe thrombocytosis and blood clots: Thrombocytosis refers to an elevated platelet count, which is not seen in this patient. In DIC, platelets are consumed, leading to thrombocytopenia rather than thrombocytosis, making clot formation due to excess platelets unlikely. C. Acute renal failure due to hypercoagulation: While DIC can cause microvascular thrombosis affecting organs, the negative D-dimer and the current labs suggest the bleeding phase dominates rather than widespread thrombotic complications. Acute renal failure from hypercoagulation is less immediate than the risk of hemorrhage in this context. D. Thrombosis leading to organ failure: Microthrombi can occur in DIC, but the patient’s lab profile, low platelets, prolonged PT and aPTT, and negative D-dimer, indicates a consumptive bleeding state. The immediate and highest-priority risk is excessive bleeding rather than thrombotic organ failure.