Effect of low molecular weight heparin (fragmin) on bleeding after cardiac surgery.

Ann Thorac Surg

Regional Cardiothoracic Centre, Freeman Hospital, Newcastle upon Tyne, England.

Published: March 2000

Background: Fragmin (Dalteparin, Pharmacia Ltd, Milton Keynes, UK), a low molecular weight heparin, is now recommended in the treatment of unstable angina. Due to the greater bioavailability and longer half-life of Fragmin compared with conventional heparin we postulated that this may influence postoperative bleeding after cardiac surgery for unstable angina.

Methods: We investigated the influence of the agent on postoperative bleeding after cardiac surgery. Patients undergoing first-time coronary artery bypass grafting were prospectively studied in four groups: group A (n = 100) were elective patients; group B (n = 60) had unstable angina and received conventional heparin intravenously until operation; group C (n = 115) received Fragmin with the last dose administered more than 12 hours before surgery; and group D (n = 115) received Fragmin within 12 hours of operation.

Results: Patients in group D had significantly greater blood loss (p < 0.001) and increased blood transfusion than groups A, B, and C (p = 0.047). Patients receiving Fragmin more than 12 hours before surgery (group C) had similar rates of blood loss and transfusion to group B (p > 0.05) but greater than in group A (p = 0.021). There were no differences in reopening rate.

Conclusions: The risks of bleeding and transfusion must be weighed against the risks of acute ischemic events if Fragmin is stopped more than 12 hours before operation.

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Source
http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/s0003-4975(99)01366-1DOI Listing

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