Holding heparin bolus

[PLTSGT]

I feel stupid asking this question: Do you hold patient's heparin if she's on her period?

[maolin]

Good question - I'll be keeping my eye on this thread for more experienced answers.

When I was on Lovenox/Coumadin therapy for a DVT, I asked the doc how this would affect my periods (especially since my BCP were dc'd as well). Turns out I didn't bleed to death - although my periods were heavier & a couple days longer than usual.

More than I ever thought I'd share about myself here - and more than you all ever wanted to know about me!!

[tinamacRN]

It depends on the individual patient - we have some female patients who have heavy bleeding during their period and we do hold their heparin - with some, we decrease the dose by half - if we hold the heparin bolus, we do circulate 5000u through the lines prior to the patient starting treatment - this helps to decrease the chance of clotting the extracorporeal circuit - hope this helps

[PLTSGT]

we hold the heparin bolus, we do circulate 5000u through the lines prior to the patient starting treatment - this helps to decrease the chance of clotting the extracorporeal circuit - hope this helps

Oh okay, because in our facility, we automatically push 6000u (1000/ml) through the system prior hooking them up unless the refuse because whatever reason, ie religious beliefs.