Question

The nurse is caring for a client who is receiving heparin therapy for a venous thromboembolism (VTE). The client's activated partial thromboplastin time (aPTT) before heparin therapy was 30 seconds. Which aPTT result indicates that anticoagulation is adequate at this time?

a. 15 seconds
b. 30 seconds
c. 60 seconds
d. 150 seconds

Answer 1

An aPTT result of 60 seconds indicates that anticoagulation is adequate for a client on heparin therapy for VTE, as this typically falls within the therapeutic range of 1.5 to 2.5 times the normal baseline.

Step-by-step explanation:

You are asking about the appropriate therapeutic range for an activated partial thromboplastin time (aPTT) in a client receiving heparin therapy for venous thromboembolism (VTE). In this case, an aPTT result of 60 seconds indicates that anticoagulation is adequate. Before heparin therapy, the patient's normal aPTT was 30 seconds. Heparin therapy aims to extend the aPTT to a range that is typically 1.5 to 2.5 times the normal baseline value. Therefore, a value of around 60 seconds would fall into this therapeutic range indicating adequate anticoagulation without significantly increasing the risk of bleeding.