Textbooks all over the place tell you that when the patient is on heparin s/he needs to check PTT regularly, and when on warfarin sodium s/he needs to check PT/INR regularly.
I just found a question that reads like this:
The nurse is discharging a client diagnosed with deep vein thrombosis (DVT). Which discharge instructions should be provided to the client?
1) Have the PTT levels checked routinely to maintain a therapeutic level.
2) When traveling, the client should plan rest stops to exercise the legs.
3) Eat a diet high in green leaf vegetables and expect the urine to be red-tinted.
4) Wear knee stockings with an elastic band around the top.
I selected no.1 but the correct answer is showing to be no.2
This is the rationale:
Correct answer 2: The client should perform frequent active and passive leg exercises. In an airplane the client should be instructed to drink plenty of fluids and move the legs up and down and flex the muscles. In an automobile the client should take frequent breaks to walk around. PT/INR should be monitored.
Now I understand the reason why instructions on leg exercises are given but I don't understand why PT/INR is to be checked instead of PTT given DVT patients are normally on heparin.
