[PLTSGT]

Data: Patient tells you that he/she just had an invasive procedure done to his fistula yesterday. No active bleeding. No complications post procedure at all.

Q: Would you hold his heparin?




This dilemma has been bothering me for a while because docs give me different answers.

[diabo]

I wouldn't hold the heparin. The reason for the surgery in the first place was probbly to declot it or to place a stent. The last thing you would want is the start of another clot. Check the INR if you can get a hold of it and run it by the doc if time permits, and if there is an over amount of new ecchymosis. Otherwise, there is no routine contradiction for running without heparin. Since you always keep the access in sight, you should be able to notice anything abnormal.

[PLTSGT]

Thanks for the rationale!