Relationships between antithrombin activity, anticoagulant efficacy of heparin therapy and perioperative variables in patients undergoing cardiac surgery requiring cardiopulmonary bypass

INTRODUCTION: A study on 149 cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB) patients was performed to elucidate possible relationships between antithrombin (AT) activity and a subject's clinical profile or surgery characteristics. METHODS: An initial dose (300 IU/kg) of heparin was administered before CPB. Additional boluses (100 IU/kg) were administered if the activated clotting time (ACT)≤460 s. AT activity and hematological parameters were determined preoperatively, during and after CPB, and at 12, 24, 36, and 48 hours post-intervention. RESULTS: 29.5% patients required an additional dose of heparin during CPB. Preoperative AT was 96.5 ± 13.9% in all but 4 patients. AT was significantly lower during CPB and upon leaving the operating room (59.7%-80.0%). A small, but significant, inverse correlation was observed between AT at the end of CPB and the patient's age, as well as between basal preoperative AT and total heparin administered. CONCLUSIONS: Patient's age could be a moderate indicator of AT activity drop and low preoperative AT activity could be a sign of reduced anticoagulant efficacy of heparin during CPB.