Efficacy of the Hepcon system in reducing hemorrhagic and thrombotic complications in antiphospholipid syndrome patients undergoing cardiac surgery.

Introduction: Patients with Antiphospholipid Syndrome (APS) undergoing cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB) surgery are at increased risk for thrombotic and hemorrhagic complications. Anticoagulation during CPB is typically monitored with activated clotting time (ACT) which may be falsely prolonged in patients with APS. The Hepcon Hemostasis Management System quantitatively determines the whole blood heparin concentration through heparin/protamine titration.

Methods: This was a retrospective study of APS patients who underwent cardiac surgery requiring CPB at the Cleveland Clinic between April 2013, and July 2020. The primary endpoint was the composite rate of hemorrhagic or thromboembolic complications per surgical case in patients monitored by Hepcon versus patients monitored by ACT. Secondary endpoints were median volume of chest tube output and packed red blood cell (PRBC) transfusion within the first three post-operative days.

Results: 43 patients were included. 20 (47%) patients were monitored using Hepcon while 23 (53%) were monitored using ACT. For the primary endpoint of rate of thromboembolic or hemorrhagic complications per surgical case, there was no statistically significant difference between the Hepcon and ACT groups (HMS, 6/20 [30%]; ACT, 7/23 [30%]; = >0.99). For the secondary endpoints, there was no statistically significant difference in median post-operative chest tube output (780 mL vs. 850 mL; = 0.88) and median post-operative PRBC transfusion (1 unit vs. 0 unit; = 0.28) between the Hepcon and ACT groups, respectively.

Conclusion: There was no difference in the composite outcome of thrombotic or hemorrhagic complications in patients monitored by Hepcon versus those monitored by ACT.