OBJECTIVE: Although fixed dosage of heparin is frequently used during vascu
lar surgery, there are very few studies that document the appropriateness o
f this type of dosing. We have undertaken a prospective study to determine
the physiological response to a fixed dose of heparin, using a conventional
measure of anticoagulation, and have correlated this measure with complica
tions.
METHODS: We studied 140 consecutive patients undergoing elective carotid en
darterectomy. Serial activated clotting times (ACT values) were obtained in
duplicate before administration of heparin, 15 minutes after application o
f a carotid artery cross-clamp, and 1 hour after administration of 5000 U o
f heparin by intravenous bolus. Postoperatively, patients were assessed for
new neurological deficits (transient ischemic attack and stroke) and neck
hematomas. A battery of neuropsychometric tests was performed in 49 patient
s at baseline and on the day after carotid endarterectomy to identify subtl
e new neurological deficits.
RESULTS: ACT values were found to be highly reproducible, with less than a
1.5% difference between duplicate baseline samples. Although all patients r
eceived 5000 U of heparin, the dose received per kilogram of body weight va
ried considerably (44-116 U/kg), as did ACT values at both 15 minutes (178-
423 s) and 1 hour (173-390 s). Nevertheless, there was a significant correl
ation between heparin dose per kilogram and ACT values at 15 minutes (r = 0
.45) and at 1 hour (r = 0.38) postinfusion, as well as ACT ratios (final AC
T/initial ACT) at 15 minutes (r = 0.43) and at 1 hour (r = 0.34) after hepa
rin bolus. Eight patients (5.7%) developed postoperative wound hematomas, o
ne of which (0.7%) required reoperation. No patient had a stroke, but one p
atient had a transient ischemic attack, and 19 (39%) of 49 patients demonst
rated significant early postoperative neuropsychometric deficits. Although
the incidence of neck hematoma was not influenced by the heparin dose (P =
0.23), the ACT value at 15 minutes (P = 0.71) or 1 hour (P = 0.61), or the
ACT ratio (P = 0.68), the only severe hematoma requiring reoperation occurr
ed when the maximal ACT value was more than 400 seconds. Although performan
ce on neuropsychometric tests did not appear to be statistically influenced
by heparin dosing, the ACT value, or the degree of ACT elevation, there wa
s a trend for deficits to be associated with lower heparin doses.
CONCLUSION: Fixed heparin dosing achieves safe and efficacious anticoagulat
ion in the great majority of patients having carotid endarterectomy, with 5
000 U expected to result in 15-minute and 1-hour ACT values of 175 to 425 s
econds and 170 to 390 seconds, respectively. Although weight-based heparin
dosing may reduce the incidence of subtle complications (hematoma formation
or decline on neuropsychometric tests) and may result in more predictable
15-minute and 1-hour ACT values (85 U/kg; 225-375 and 200-340 s, respective
ly), no statistically compelling clinical advantage could be demonstrated.
Therefore, either weight-based or fixed dosing is acceptable, with both obv
iating the need for routine pre-clamp ACT confirmation, thereby saving oper
ative time and expense.