What is the recommended action to continuously monitor the efficacy of heparin during dialysis?

Performing regular blood tests for clotting times is the appropriate action to continuously monitor the efficacy of heparin during dialysis. Heparin is an anticoagulant used to prevent blood clots during the hemodialysis procedure. Monitoring clotting times, such as activated partial thromboplastin time (aPTT) or anti-Xa levels, helps ensure that the heparin dosage is sufficient to maintain anticoagulation without causing excessive bleeding.

This practice is essential because maintaining the correct level of anticoagulation is critical to preventing clot formation within the dialysis circuit, which can lead to complications and decreased dialysis efficacy. Regular blood tests allow healthcare providers to adjust the heparin dose based on individual patient response, ensuring optimal treatment while minimizing risks.

Other monitoring parameters such as blood pressure, while important for overall patient assessment, do not directly provide information on heparin efficacy. Similarly, increasing the heparin dose without continuous monitoring of clotting times can pose significant risks of bleeding. Stopping the infusion only in response to noted allergies does not provide a continuous assessment of heparin's effectiveness in preventing clotting during the procedure.