TCRN Practice Exam 2025 – Complete Prep for Your Test

The most rapid treatment for reversing the effects of an elevated International Normalized Ratio (INR) in a patient with a subdural hematoma is prothrombin complex infusion. Prothrombin complex concentrates are specifically designed to provide factors II, VII, IX, and X, which are crucial for the coagulation cascade. When a patient's INR is elevated, it indicates a greater risk of bleeding, particularly in cases like a subdural hematoma, where controlling bleeding is critical.

Prothrombin complex concentrates act quickly, often within minutes, to restore coagulation factors and effectively reduce the INR, making it the preferred choice in acute emergency situations. This rapid action is essential for patients who are at risk of significant bleeding due to the elevated INR.

While fresh frozen plasma can also help in reversing coagulopathy by providing clotting factors, it requires more time to thaw and administer, making it less ideal in urgent scenarios. Vitamin K, although effective in promoting the synthesis of clotting factors, takes longer (up to 24 hours) to produce noticeable effects on INR levels. Packed red blood cells are necessary when there is significant blood loss, but they do not directly address the underlying issue of elevated INR. Therefore, prothrom