Free Custom «The Circulation System» Essay Paper

Thromboembolic impediment to the chief constituents of the circulation system, namely venous, arterial, and intravascular surfaces, may lead to untimely death as well as disability of an individual. One of the drugs utilized in a lot of the thromboembolism-related conditions is heparin. Heparin Sodium Injection is a germ-free, non-pyrogenic substance consisting of heparin sodium in its liquid state used for inoculation purposes. It is obtained from the porcine mucosa of the intestine.  Every single container has approximately forty or eighty milligrams of sodium chloride added to make it isotonic. The solution may comprise of hydrochloric acid or sodium hydroxide. In the case of hydrochloric acid, the pH ought to be adjusted as the solution’s pH range is 5.0-7.0.There exist no antimicrobial agents, bacteriostatic agents or supplementary buffers in this solution. In addition, it is projected for usage simply as a single-dose jab (Miyashita, Hayashi & Kuro, 2000). Whenever reduced doses are required, the unused part ought to be cast-off. Following dilution, heparin sodium is intended for intravenous administration into the system.

Reactions that effect the formation of blood clots as well as the materialization of fibrin clots, both in vivo and in vitro, are inhibited by heparin. In the standard system of coagulation, this drug acts at numerous sites. Small quantities of heparin, blended with heparin co-factor, anti-thrombin III, may prevent coagulation by incapacitating stimulated Factor X as well as impeding the transformation of prothrombin to its active form – thrombin. Once vigorous coagulation has been established, higher quantities of heparin may constrain further clotting by incapacitating thrombin and averting the transformation of fibrinogen to its active form – fibrin. In addition, the drug thwarts the establishment of a steady fibrin globule by obstructing the stimulation of the fibrin alleviating factor. Heparin does not play any role during bleeding. On the other hand, clotting period is protracted by complete therapeutic dosages of heparin. In several instances, it is not noticeably affected by small dosages of heparin.

High levels of heparin in the plasma are attained two to four after hypodermic administration, even though there are significant dissimilarities with regard to individuals. Log-linear plots of drug concentrations over time for a varied dose levels are rectilinear. This demonstrates that there are no zero order procedures (Perkash, 1980). Biotransformation of this drug takes place in the reticuloendothelial and liver systems. The biphasic abolition curve, a briskly deteriorating alpha level and after forty years of age a sluggish beta level, designates uptake in tissues. The absenteeism of a connection between concentration and anticoagulant half-life may reveal aspects like binding of protein by heparin. Heparin does not posses fibrinolytic functions. As a result, it does not lyse prevailing clots.

Heparin drug is not effective when consumed orally. Therefore, it should be administered in the form of uneven intravenous injections. This ought to be subsequent to dilution in fifty or a hundred milliliters of 5% dextrose inoculation or circulatory infusion. The prescribed amount of this drug should be regulated in relation to the patient’s clotting test outcomes. When the drug is administered by incessant venous infusion, the clotting period ought to be determined nearly every four hours in the initial phases of treatment. Consequently, when prescribed irregularly by venous injection, clotting tests would be done before every injection during the initial phases of medication and at suitable intervals afterwards. The prescribed amount is regarded sufficient when the ‘activated partial thromboplastin time’ is about two times normal or whenever the complete blood coagulation period is raised approximately three times the regulating value. Intermittent hematocrits, platelet counts and occult blood tests in stool are commended during the whole process of heparin treatment (Rosenberg, 1977).

Transformation to Oral Anticoagulant

Whenever an oral anticoagulant of coumarin origin is to be taken by patients who were previously treated with heparin sodium, reference point and consequent tests on prothrombin activity should be held. This should happen when the activity of heparin is too little to upset the prothrombin time. In case incessant intravenous infusion of heparin is employed, prothrombin time may frequently be determined at any interval.

In the course of transforming from heparin to an oral anticoagulant, the quantity of the oral anticoagulant must be the normal original quantity and, subsequently, prothrombin time ought to be measured at the standard intervals. To guarantee unceasing anticoagulation, complete heparin therapy should be sustained for quite a few days once the prothrombin time has gotten to the remedial range. Heparin psychotherapy could then be withdrawn without any drawbacks.

Administration Preparations

Several procedures ought to be adhered to and include: confirmation of the initiation and the bottle fillings’ admixture, squeezing the bottle to check leakage and discarding the bottle in case of leakage, terminating the clamp that controls flow of the administration set and removal of the outlet port’s cover at the bottom of the bottle. This is followed by the insertion of the administration set’s penetrating pin into port with a winding gesticulation until it fits firmly. Afterwards, the end of the loop is lifted leading to the breakage of the two connection strings. The loop is then curved outwards in order to pin it in a vertical position (Miyashita, Hayashi & Kuro, 2000). The bottle is then suspended from the hanger. This is followed by the squeezing of the drip compartment in order to establish a suitable fluid level in the compartment. Afterwards, the clamp that controls flow is opened and air is cleared from the set. Then it is closed. The set is then attached to venipuncture equipment. Finally, the flow regulation clamp is used for regulating the administration rate.