Anticoagulation for Cardiac Surgery in Patients Receiving Preoperative Heparin: Use of the High-Dose Thrombin Time

Abstract

The diminished activated clotting time response to heparin, in patients receiving preoperative heparin therapy, poses difficulties when attempting to provide adequate anticoagulation for cardiopulmonary bypass. Current data suggest that heparin resistance is not observed when high-dose thrombin time is used to monitor anticoagulation and that a lower activated clotting time value in these patients may be safe.