A nurse on a cardiac unit is reviewing reversal protocols for patients receiving anticoagulants. Which statements are accurate? Select all that apply.
Select All That Apply
Choose your responses, then check the answer.
Explanation
Correct: 2, 3, 4, 6. (2) Protamine sulfate is administered IV to neutralize unfractionated heparin; the dose is based on the amount of heparin received recently because heparin is cleared over time. (3) Idarucizumab is a specific antibody fragment used for emergency reversal of dabigatran in life-threatening bleeding or urgent surgery. (4) Major warfarin-associated bleeding requires rapid factor replacement with 4-factor prothrombin complex concentrate plus IV vitamin K for sustained reversal; vitamin K alone acts too slowly for intracranial hemorrhage. (6) Protamine can be used for low-molecular-weight heparin exposure, but it only partially reverses the anticoagulant effect. Incorrect: (1) Oral vitamin K alone does not provide sufficiently rapid reversal for active intracranial hemorrhage. (5) Fresh frozen plasma requires more volume and acts more slowly than 4-factor PCC; it is generally reserved for situations in which PCC is unavailable or unsuitable. For major bleeding, stop the anticoagulant and follow the current institutional reversal protocol with urgent pharmacy, hematology, or stroke-team guidance.
Match the anticoagulant with the reversal strategy. Unfractionated heparin is reversed with IV protamine based on recent heparin exposure. Protamine only partially reverses low-molecular-weight heparin such as enoxaparin. Dabigatran has a specific reversal agent, idarucizumab. Major warfarin bleeding is treated with 4-factor PCC for rapid factor replacement plus IV vitamin K for sustained correction; vitamin K alone is too slow for intracranial hemorrhage, and FFP is slower and requires more volume than PCC. Reversal decisions for major bleeding should follow the current institutional protocol and involve urgent specialty support.
Cardiac telemetry unit. Patient cohort under review: A) 78-year-old on warfarin (INR 6.5) with melena; B) 65-year-old receiving heparin drip with hematuria; C) 72-year-old on dabigatran with intracranial hemorrhage; D) 55-year-old on apixaban with retroperitoneal hematoma. Nurse preparing reversal kits and verifying weight-based doses with the pharmacist.
4-Factor PCC (Kcentra) — Concentrated mixture of vitamin K-dependent clotting factors II, VII, IX, and X used for rapid reversal of warfarin in patients with major bleeding or before urgent surgery; works within 10 to 30 minutes
Idarucizumab (Praxbind) — Humanized monoclonal antibody fragment that binds dabigatran with high affinity, providing immediate reversal for life-threatening bleeding or emergency surgery; given as 5 g IV (two 2.5 g vials)
Andexanet Alfa (Andexxa) — Recombinant modified factor Xa decoy protein that binds and sequesters factor Xa inhibitors apixaban, rivaroxaban, and edoxaban; indicated for life-threatening or uncontrolled bleeding; carries risk of thromboembolic events