Why is heparin used in dialysis treatments?

Heparin is commonly used in dialysis treatments primarily because of its short-acting nature, which allows it to prevent blood clotting during the procedure without lingering effects afterward. This characteristic is essential in dialysis, as heparin prevents thrombosis within the dialysis machine and the patient's blood vessels during treatment, ensuring that blood can flow freely through the dialyzer.

The short duration of heparin's action is beneficial because it means that once the dialysis session is over, the anticoagulated state of the blood is resolved quickly, reducing the risk of bleeding or complications related to prolonged anticoagulation. This ensures that the patient's blood coagulation levels return to normal shortly after the treatment, which is critical for patient safety.

In this context, the fact that heparin does not persist in the bloodstream post-treatment aligns well with the needs of dialysis, making it the preferred choice for anticoagulation in such settings.