How often should APTT be checked during heparin treatment?

During heparin treatment, the Activated Partial Thromboplastin Time (APTT) is an important laboratory test used to monitor the anticoagulant effect of unfractionated heparin. The APTT should be checked every 6 hours at the beginning of treatment to ensure the patient is within the therapeutic range. This frequent monitoring is necessary because it helps prevent both under-treatment, which can lead to thrombosis, and over-treatment, which increases the risk of bleeding complications.

Once the patient is stable and maintains therapeutic APTT levels, monitoring may be adjusted based on clinical guidelines and the healthcare provider's judgment. However, initiating heparin therapy requires more frequent monitoring to ensure the patient responds adequately and to adjust dosages as needed effectively. Therefore, checking APTT every 6 hours is the clinically accepted practice in the early stages of heparin administration.