2. What are Anticoagulants?
A substance that prevents blood from
clotting by suppressing the synthesis
or function of various clotting factors.
Anticoagulants are given to prevent
thrombosis and used in drawing and
storing blood.
There are two main types of
anticoagulants: heparin and vitamin K
antagonists (e.g., warfarin).
The latter have longer-lasting effects,
interfering in the liver's metabolism of
vitamin K to cause production of
defective clotting factors.
3. Anticoagulants & Embalming
Anticoagulants loosen clots in
the blood that have formed
due to a delay in embalming
or refrigeration of the body.
They help to keep the blood
in a liquid state which is very
important to achieve good
drainage during the
embalming process.
Within a few hours of death
the blood begins to clot,
forming post mortem clots.
This poses a threat to the
embalmer as it relates to
achieving good results from
the embalming process. Clots
can easily block the pathway
for arterial solution and
prevent adequate drainage.
4. Kelquestrol D3 Co-Injection
Anticoagulant Action & Water Conditioning Formula.
Use routinely as a co-injection additive in primary dilutions for all arterial
embalming procedures
Example of an
Anticoagulant
fluid used in
Embalming.
5. Interesting facts about
Anticoagulants:
•Although they are sometimes called blood thinners, they do not
actually thin the blood.
•Anticoagulants will prevent new clots from forming, but will not
dissolve existing clots.
•Alcohol can change the way anticoagulant drugs affect the
body.
•Diet also affects the way anticoagulant drugs work in the body.
Consuming alcohol and green leafy vegetables can both have an impact
on the way anticoagulants affect the work.
6. Anticoagulants and Class
Anticoagulants are an
important component of
embalming fluids, especially
arterial fluids, because they
are used to maintain blood in
a liquid state and thereby
make it easy to remove from
the circulatory system.
Water conditioners and
softeners aid to improve
drainage by keeping blood in a
liquid state during the
embalming operation and
softening the framework of
clotted materials so that it readily
breaks up into smaller pieces.
By reducing the hardness of water, such materials enhance the
function of the arterial fluid. The interfering chemicals such as
calcium, magnesium, and iron actually prevent the preservative
chemicals present in arterial fluids from performing their intended
function penetrating soft tissues to achieve preservation.
7. Questions about this term
?
•What embalming chemicals can
cause anticoagulants to become
inactive or not work as well?
•When did the need for
anticoagulants in embalming
become necessary?
•Are there continued research
projects in process that will help to
enhance anticoagulants for the
future?
8. Works Cited
"AnticoagulantAbout Our Definitions: All Forms of a Word (noun, Verb, Etc.)
Are Now Displayed on One Page." Merriam-Webster. Merriam-
Webster, n.d. Web. 21 July 2013.
http://www.encyclopedia.com/topic/anticoagulant.aspx
http://www.forensicscience.pl/pfs/54_kala.pdf
"Google Images." Google Images. N.p., n.d. Web. 21 July 2013.
