Dialysis Technician Practice Exam

Which medication is commonly used to prevent blood from clotting in the extracorporeal circuit?

1. Heparin

2. Warfarin

3. Aspirin

4. Rivaroxaban

The correct answer is: Heparin

Heparin is a commonly used anticoagulant in dialysis settings because it acts quickly to prevent blood from clotting in the extracorporeal circuit. Its effects can be reversed quickly if needed, making it a suitable choice for short-term procedures like dialysis, where maintaining blood flow is crucial. Heparin works by inhibiting specific clotting factors in the blood, which helps to maintain patency in the dialysis machine and prevents complications associated with clot formation, such as reduced efficiency of the dialysis process or the necessity to reset the machine. Other medications, while they have anticoagulant properties, are not typically used in this acute setting. For example, Warfarin is a long-term anticoagulant often prescribed for chronic conditions, such as atrial fibrillation or after certain types of surgeries, but it takes longer to reach therapeutic levels and is not appropriate for immediate use during dialysis. Aspirin also has an antiplatelet effect but is not an effective choice for preventing clot formation in the extracorporeal circuit. Lastly, Rivaroxaban, like Warfarin, is an anticoagulant used for longer-term management of certain conditions but is also not suitable for the immediate anticoagulation needs during dialysis. Thus, Hepar