The healthcare provider has ordered that a patient be placed on a hemostatic drug to control postoperative bleeding. Which of the following medications will most likely be given in this situation?

A. Trombin (Evithrom): Incorrect: Thrombin (also known as factor IIa) is not typically used as a hemostatic drug. It is involved in the final step of the coagulation cascade, converting fibrinogen to fibrin to form a stable clot. However, it is not administered directly as a medication.

B. Aminocaproic acid (Amicar): Aminocaproic acid is an antifibrinolytic agent commonly used to control bleeding. It works by inhibiting the breakdown of fibrin clots, thus promoting hemostasis. It is particularly useful in situations where excessive bleeding occurs due to impaired clot dissolution. However, tranexamic acid is generally considered more potent and has a longer-lasting effect, making it the preferred choice in many situations.

C. Aspirin: Incorrect: Aspirin is an antiplatelet medication that inhibits platelet aggregation. While it can reduce the risk of clot formation, it is not primarily used for controlling postoperative bleeding.

D. Tranexamic acid (Cyklokapron): Correct: Tranexamic acid is another antifibrinolytic agent that helps prevent excessive bleeding. It works by blocking the breakdown of fibrin clots. Tranexamic acid is commonly used in surgical settings to manage bleeding during and after procedures.

A. Oprelvekin (Neumega): Oprelvekin is a recombinant human interleukin-11 (IL-11) used to stimulate the production of platelets, not red blood cells. It is primarily indicated for patients with thrombocytopenia (low platelet count) due to chemotherapy.

B. Epoetin alfa (Procrit): Epoetin alfa is a synthetic form of erythropoietin, a hormone produced by the kidneys that stimulates the production of red blood cells in the bone marrow. It is commonly used to treat anemia associated with chronic kidney disease, chemotherapy, or HIV therapy. Therefore, it is administered to increase the number of circulating red blood cells.

C. Clopidogrel (Plavix): Clopidogrel is an antiplatelet medication that inhibits platelet aggregation, thereby reducing the risk of blood clots. It does not directly stimulate the production of red blood cells.

D. Filgrastim (Neupogen): Filgrastim is a recombinant human granulocyte colony-stimulating factor (G-CSF) that stimulates the production of white blood cells, particularly neutrophils, in the bone marrow. It is used to treat neutropenia (low white blood cell count) caused by chemotherapy, bone marrow transplantation, or certain diseases. It does not directly stimulate the production of red blood cells.