Question

When caring for a patient experiencing a pulmonary embolism (PE), the nurse would expect to see an increase in which lab results due to the effects of heparin?

1) Prothrombin time (PT)
2) Activated partial thromboplastin time (aPTT)
3) International normalized ratio (INR)
4) Platelet count

Answer 1

In a patient experiencing PE and treated with heparin, an increase in the Activated Partial Thromboplastin Time (aPTT) would be expected to monitor the therapeutic effect of the anticoagulant.

Step-by-step explanation:

The correct option : 2

When a patient is treated for a pulmonary embolism (PE) with heparin, one would expect to see an increase in their Activated Partial Thromboplastin Time (aPTT). Heparin is an anticoagulant that works primarily on the intrinsic and common pathways of the coagulation cascade. It increases the efficacy of antithrombin III, which in turn inactivates thrombin and factor Xa, among other factors. The aPTT test measures the effectiveness of the intrinsic and common pathways of coagulation, and it is used to monitor the therapeutic effect of heparin.

As heparin's action increases, aPTT values will also increase, indicating a longer time for blood to clot and thus effective anticoagulation. It is important to note that while heparin affects aPTT, Prothrombin Time (PT) and International Normalized Ratio (INR) are generally used to monitor other anticoagulants such as warfarin. As for the platelet count, it is not typically affected by the therapeutic use of heparin unless a condition known as Heparin-Induced Thrombocytopenia (HIT) occurs, but this is an adverse reaction and not a therapeutic outcome.