When to start Heperin Drip

[Tinabelle]

My patient had signs/symptoms of a PE. He went down for a catskan and it was confirmed the PE was in the right lung. The resident called me with the results and told me to order a stat ptt and ivc placement. IR quickly called to make sure patient had been NPO and did not receive any heperin. I explained this to be true. I was then told to wait 6 hrs after filter placement to start the new Heperin Drip that had been ordered. My question..Is 6 hrs standard?

[kayern]

Probably the reason the MD wanted to wait before starting the heparin was r/t hematoma

post-operatively. What was the PTT? After the insertion did they start coumadin?

[Tinabelle]

Kayern,

You were right, it was r/t the patient developing a hematoma. Last week I saw the Dr. that gave me the order...turns out it was because they pulled the epi just before the ivc filter placement. She explained to me that the risk of a hematoma in that area could mean permanent paraylysis for the patient. Makes sense. Thanks for your input.:)