A patient develops a pulmonary embolism after total knee replacement surgery and must be converted from heparin to sodium warfarin (Coumadin) anticoagulant therapy. What should the nurse tell the patient?
A) Coumadin will continue to break up the clot over a period of weeks.
B) His prothrombin time (PT) and international normalized ratio (INR) will be periodically checked for dose adjustment.
C) Anticoagulant therapy usually lasts 4 to 6 weeks.
D) He should take a vitamin supplement containing vitamin K.
Ans: B
Feedback: The patient's PT and INR should be periodically checked to make sure that they're in the therapeutic range. Overanticoagulation predisposes the patient to hemorrhage. Anticoagulant therapy prevents further clot formation but can't be used to dissolve a clot. The therapy continues for approximately 6 months. Vitamin K reverses the effect of anticoagulant therapy and shouldn't be taken in large amounts.
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