PTT question

Nursing Students NCLEX

Published

Ok, I know normal PTT is 20-39 seconds. It is 1.5-2 times normal with Heparin therapy. It sounds confusing because I missed a question on Kaplan like that. The rationale says PTT greater than 150 alerts complication :uhoh3:

What do they mean??? 2x39=78, right??? Why 150? :uhoh3::uhoh3::uhoh3:

Up Vote Up Vote ×

Well I'm not sure what the exact question was asking. But if normal PTT is less than 40 according to them. And therapeutic when on Heparin is going to be 1.5-2 times that, it should be no MORE than 80 seconds. So if a pt's labs come back with a PTT of 150 seconds...that's really not good. They'd be bleeding and bleeding for a long long time. That means their Heparin should be reduced or stopped. If they're on a heparin drip, it should be changed depending on the PTT or INR drawn( the doc might order both to determine if you're in a therapeutic range).

Up Vote Up Vote ×

But remember the PT/INR is for coumadin, APTT/PTT is for Heparin

Up Vote Up Vote ×

That's right Kgh31386.....I'm unable to pm folks, I think I need 15+ posts or I just don't know how to pm.........lol

There is a nice thread on PT and PTT:

https://allnurses.com/nursing-student-assistance/some-questions-about-138487.html

hopefully you will be able to find some info here nurse2b08.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Medical and general practice now LTC.
That's right Kgh31386.....I'm unable to pm folks, I think I need 15+ posts or I just don't know how to pm.........lol

There is a nice thread on PT and PTT:

https://allnurses.com/nursing-student-assistance/some-questions-about-138487.html

hopefully you will be able to find some info here nurse2b08.

You need 15 or more posts to be able to send a pm you can however read pms that are sent to you

Up Vote Up Vote ×

i think the question you're being asked is what to do about it. do you stop the heparin, do you discontinue, notify the physician, or document the finding. and they say the correct choice is to DOCUMENT the finding. this is the action of heparin, it prolongs ptt. so when it's 1.5 times the normal, it's still a good thing. but maybe not when it 2 times the normal (that would be 80 seconds). hope this helps.

Up Vote Up Vote ×

Yeah I wasn't too sure what the question gave or asked. What was the answer you put, and the answer they said is correct? Because I figured if they said 1.5-2 times the normal is therapeutic for Heparin, then anything more than 2 times the normal is not good and would alert complication. But that's just going based on what the OP said. I think we need some more info about the question details.

Up Vote Up Vote ×

so if the patient has a PTT lets say of 22 and is on heparin and the normal is 1.5-2 times the normal does this mean that the PTT should not be greater that 44 seconds. So you always take the patient's PTT and time it by 2 and it should never be greater than that number?

Up Vote Up Vote ×
+ Add a Comment