A client who experienced abruptio placentae is at risk for disseminated intravascular coagulopathy (DIC). What manifestation should the nurse monitor for?

Monitoring for oozing from injection sites is critical in a client who has experienced abruptio placentae due to the risk of disseminated intravascular coagulopathy (DIC). DIC is a serious condition characterized by the widespread activation of the clotting cascade, which can lead to the consumption of clotting factors and platelets. This can result in impaired hemostasis, causing bleeding tendencies, including oozing from injection sites, mucous membranes, and other potential sites of injury.

In cases of DIC, the body is unable to adequately control bleeding, and one of the clearest manifestations of this is oozing at sites where blood vessels have been compromised, such as injection sites. This indicates a failure of the clotting mechanisms, which is a hallmark of DIC.

Other manifestations may include severe abdominal pain and changes in vital signs, but they do not specifically indicate the coagulation issues that can lead to bleeding. Increased fetal heart rate is typically more related to fetal well-being rather than the mother's coagulation status, making oozing from injection sites a more direct indicator of DIC in this context.