The nurse is caring for an 82-year-old woman with superior vena cava syndrome due to a clot formed around the patient's implanted port. The patient is on a heparin drip at 12 units/hr. Which of the following laboratory values will be used to titrate the infusion rate?
A) Hemoglobin (Hgb)
B) Platelet count (Plt)
C) Partial thromboplastin time (aPTT)
D) Clotting time

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

The partial thromboplastin time (aPTT) is used to monitor the effectiveness of heparin therapy. It measures the time it takes for blood to clot and is used to adjust the heparin dose to achieve the desired level of anticoagulation. Hemoglobin and platelet count may be affected by the patient's condition or treatment but are not used to titrate heparin infusion rate. Clotting time is not a standard lab test and its interpretation is not well-established.

The Nurse Is Caring for an 82-Year-Old Woman with Superior