ACTIVATED CLOTTING TIME FOR CONTROL OF ANTICOAGULATION DURING SURGERY

  • 1 January 1985
    • journal article
    • research article
    • Vol. 51  (5) , 274-278
Abstract
Two groups of patients undergoing extracorporeal bypass were compared for heparin activity and for heparin and protamine dosage. In group I (18 patients), a uniform dosage pattern was neutralized at the end to a normal clotting time. In group II (43 patients), heparin and terminal protamine doses were regulated by activated clotting times (ACT) using a Hemochron. In group II there was a 39% reduction of total heparin dose/case, protamine was reduced 76%, and if the initial heparin doses were excluded, maintenance heparin was reduced 73%. No pattern of heparin administration could be applied to all patients. Heparin half-life varied from 43-220 min. Other factors that alter heparin activity during bypass revealed no statistical differences. Plasma Hb was significantly higher in group I, and platelet counts the day following operation were higher in group II. ACT allows tailoring heparin and protamine without the unnecessary dangers of variations in patient response and drug potency.

This publication has 0 references indexed in Scilit: