NURSING ANM AND GNM

Detailed explanation-1: -Patients treated with UFH are commonly monitored by the activated partial thromboplastin time (APTT) [1]. This coagulometric assay measures the time required to form a fibrin clot after contact activation of platelet-poor plasma [2], and is therefore an indirect assessment of heparin activity [3].

Detailed explanation-2: -However, APTT is the test of choice for monitoring therapy with unfractionated heparin because it is sensitive to all the coagulation factors this drug targets.

Detailed explanation-3: -Frequency of aPTT Monitoring Upon initiation of heparin therapy, the aPTT test should be ordered every 6 hours until the result falls within the target therapeutic range. Whenever the heparin dosage is changed, the aPTT should be reevaluated every 6 hours until the desired therapeutic range is reached.

Detailed explanation-4: -aPTT is used to monitor heparin anticoagulant therapy; however, it cannot be used to monitor therapy with newer low-molecular-weight heparin.

Detailed explanation-5: -The therapeutic range for unfractionated heparin with this assay is 0.3 to 0.7 U/mL.