"Characterizing the Association of Heparin Dose and Activated Clotting Time on Lower Extremity Bypass Outcomes" Published in the Journal of Vascular Surgery

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BMC2 Coordinating Center

Article Highlights:

Type of Research: Multicenter Retrospective Review of Prospectively Collected Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan Cardiovascular Consortium (BMC2) Data

Key Findings: While ACT monitoring rates varied substantially across hospitals (12%-100%), ACT measurement nor achieving an ACT>250 was associated with postoperative bleeding, thrombosis, amputation, readmission, or mortality. Protamine use was associated with decreased bleeding and no difference in thrombosis.

Take home Message: Achieving an ACT >250, or even measuring ACT at all, may be unnecessary in the setting of adequate heparin dose.

Authors are Craig S. Brown, Shukri Dualeh, Nicholas H. Osborne, Jeremy Albright, Andrew Huang, Loay Kabbani, Frank M. Davis, Hervert D. Aronow, Andrew S. Kimball, Eugene Laveroni, Paul Bove, Constantinos Constantinou, Nicholas J. Mouawad, and Peter K. Henke.

Read more on the Journal of Vascular Surgery website.