Author Question: What is the purpose of the warfarin (Coumadin) in K.N.'s case? Why is it ... (Read 43 times)

Zoey63294 · **on:** Jun 25, 2018

What is the purpose of the warfarin (Coumadin) in K.N.'s case?

Why is it prescribed?

Question 2

You are the nurse working in an anticoagulation clinic. One of your patients is K.N., who has a long-standing history of an irregular heartbeat, known as atrial fibrillation or A-fib, for which he takes the oral anticoagulant warfarin (Coumadin).

Recently K.N. had his mitral heart valve replaced with a mechanical valve.

How does atrial fibrillation differ from a normal heart rhythm?

abro1885 · **Reply #1 on:** Jun 25, 2018

Answer to Question 1

The purpose of the warfarin is twofold. It is given to prevent thrombus formation. K.N. has a
mechanical heart valve, which puts him at a higher risk for thrombus formation. In addition, during
atrial fibrillation, blood pooling in the quivering atria might also lead to thrombus formation, which
might lead to embolic events, such as pulmonary embolus or cerebrovascular accident (CVA).

Answer to Question 2

When the heart is beating with a normal rhythm, the atria contract together, pumping blood into the
ventricles, then the ventricles contract, pumping blood into the pulmonary arteries and aorta. With
atrial fibrillation, the atria beat in a disorganized manner, at a rate of 350 to 600 times per minute
as if they are quivering. The result is no atrial contractions with an irregular ventricular response;
in fact, the ventricles often beat with a rapid rate in response to the increased number of atrial
impulses. The rapid yet irregular ventricular rate decreases ventricular filling and reduces cardiac
output.