An anticoagulant called heparin is added to the blood as it enters the dialysis machine during the early stages of dialysis. Why is this important? Why is the addition of heparin discontinued towards the end of a dialysis session?​
Routine hemodialysis requires anticoagulation with heparin to prevent clotting in the extracorporeal circuit. Activated whole blood clotting times are used to measure the level of anticoagulation during dialysis.
