• Kelly A Machovec, Edmund H Jooste, Richard J Walczak, Hercilia Mayumi Homi, Robert D B Jaquiss, Andrew J Lodge, and Warwick A Ames.
• Division of Pediatric Anesthesia, Department of Anesthesiology, Duke University Hospital, Durham, NC, USA.
• Paediatr Anaesth. 2015 Jun 1;25(6):580-6.

BackgroundAn immature coagulation system coupled with the hypothermia and hemodilution associated with cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB) in infants makes the activated clotting time (ACT) an ineffective monitor for anticoagulation in this population. The Medtronic HMS Plus Hemostasis Management System (HMS; Medtronic, Inc., Minneapolis, MN, USA) is shown to decrease thrombin generation and blood product requirements.AimWe conducted a quality improvement initiative to test our hypothesis that the use of HMS results in reduced incidence of subtherapeutic ACT values, blood product usage, and operating room time for infants undergoing cardiac surgery.MethodsFifty consecutive patients weighing <10 kg having cardiac surgery requiring CPB had anticoagulation managed by the HMS. Data were compared to that of 50 consecutive patients weighing <10 kg having cardiac surgery who had their anticoagulation monitored by the ACT alone. Comparisons between categorical variables were performed with chi-square tests. Comparisons between continuous variables were performed with the Wilcoxon rank-sum test. Statistical significance was defined as two-tailed P value < 0.05.ResultsThe HMS group had a 61% decrease in incidence of ACT values <480 s and elimination of ACT values < 400 s at any time on bypass. The HMS group received fewer blood products and spent fewer minutes in the operating room after protamine administration, translating to fewer donor exposures and a savings of $403 in transfusion costs and $440 in operating room time costs.ConclusionOur findings highlight the benefits of individualized heparinization for pediatric patients undergoing CPB with a monitored heparinization system.© 2014 John Wiley & Sons Ltd.

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