Clinical Outcomes of 5000 IU Heparin Versus Activated Clotting Time-Guided Heparinization During Noncardiac Arterial Procedures: A Propensity Score Matched Analysis

• Published in: Journal of endovascular therapy 2024-09, p.15266028241278137
• Main Authors: Hoebink, Max, Roosendaal, Liliane C, Beverloo, Marie-José, Wiersema, Arno M, van der Ploeg, T, Steunenberg, Thomas A H, Yeung, Kak Khee, Jongkind, Vincent
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• ISSN: 1526-6028; 1545-1550; 1545-1550
• DOI: 10.1177/15266028241278137

Previous studies have shown that activated clotting time (ACT)-guided heparinization leads to better anticoagulation levels during noncardiac arterial procedures (NCAP) than a standardized bolus of 5000 IU. Better anticoagulation should potentially result in lower incidence of thrombo-embolic complications (TEC). Comparative investigations on clinical outcomes of these heparinization strategies are scarce. This study investigated clinical outcomes of ACT-guided heparinization with a starting dose of 100 IU/kg in comparison with a single standardized bolus of 5000 IU heparin during NCAP. Analysis from a prospectively collected database of patients undergoing NCAP in 2 vascular centers was performed. Patients receiving ACT-guided heparinization were matched 1:1 with patients receiving 5000 IU heparin using propensity score matching (PSM). Primary outcomes were TEC, bleeding complications, and mortality within 30 days of procedure or during the same admission. A total of 759 patients (5000 IU heparin: 213 patients, ACT-guided heparinization: 546 patients) were included. Propensity score matching resulted in 209 patients in each treatment group. After PSM, the groups were comparable, with the exception of a higher prevalence of peripheral arterial disease in the ACT-guided heparinization group (103 patients, 49% vs 82 patients, 39%, p=0.039). The target ACT (>200 seconds) was reached in 198 patients (95%) of the ACT-guided group versus 71 patients (34%) of the 5000 IU group (p