Dr. Roach: Doctors leave stroke patient without a single treatment option

Key Points:

• A patient with lung cancer and disseminated intravascular coagulation (DIC) was advised against surgery due to stroke risk and given limited treatment options, prompting concerns about the adequacy of care.
• DIC is a severe condition causing widespread clotting and bleeding risks, often with a poor prognosis; however, treatments exist to manage both the underlying cancer and the clotting disorder.
• Dr. Roach emphasizes that sending a patient home without pursuing cancer treatment is not the only option, and that therapies such as surgery, radiation, chemotherapy, and clotting factor management should be considered.
• In a separate discussion, nasal cromolyn sodium (NasalCrom) is recognized as a safe but less effective treatment for perennial vasomotor rhinitis compared to steroids, with the main drawback being frequent dosing requirements.
• Other allergy treatments mentioned include immunotherapy, nasal ipratropium bromide, leukotriene inhibitors, saline sprays, and biologics, highlighting the variety of options available depending on individual patient needs.