Adjusted-dose intravenous heparin treatment evaluation of an automated and a non automated schedule.
An automated schedule for adjusted continuous intravenous heparin treatment was tested under physician supervision in 19 patients and the results were compared to those obtained in 27 patients treated prior to automation. Both schedules used plasma activated partial thrombo-plastin time (P-APTT) for adjustment of heparin infusion and aimed at the same therapeutic interval for P-APTT (1.5-2 times the value in normal pooled plasma). The quality of treatment was assessed on the basis of clinical information and its ability to keep the P-APTT within or close to the therapeutic interval. The automated schedule reduced the involvement of the physician by 73% without changing the quality of treatment or increasing the consumption of other resources such as the number of P-APTT analyses. Both schedules were able to keep the P-APTT of the patients within the therapeutic interval for about 40% of the treatment time.
Felding
P
P
Department of Clinical Chemistry, Rigshospitalet, Copenhagen, Denmark.
Bremmelgaard
A
A
Winkel
P
P
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D002986:Clinical Trials as Topic; D005260:Female; D006493:Heparin / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D006801:Humans; D007260:Infusion Pumps; D007262:Infusions, Intravenous; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011655:Pulmonary Embolism / Q000188:drug therapy*; D013924:Thrombophlebitis / Q000188:drug therapy*
D006493:Heparin