Anticoagulation and Heparin Administration

For healthcare professionals working in any setting, the needs and safety of the patient constitute the primary priorities. Dialysis patients, in particular, have numerous needs because of their renal failure an the sheer necessity of regular treatment. Anticoagulation is one of these special needs in which all healthcare professionals should be well versed. Once the blood leaves the body, it tends to clot very quickly. Clotting is the body's normal response to the blood coming in contact with something other than the normal intact blood vessel. The goal of clotting is to stop the bleeding making this mechanism vital to preserving life. But clotting can't happen during the dialysis treatments, so anticoagulation drugs must be administered to prevent the process.

To this end, this resource addresses the use of anticoagulants during dialysis as well as the healthcare professional's role in the administration of the most commonly used anticoagulants: Heparin.

After completing this resource, learners will be able to:

• Describe the purpose of an anticoagulant in hemodialysis treatment
• Describe heparin and its various types
• Identify heparin dosage, uses, and laboratory tests
• Identify the needles and equipment used for cannulation and proper needle placement