title: Protamine sulphate and heparin rebound following open-heart surgery.
abstract: The efficacy of heparin reversal was investigated in 35 patients undergoing open-heart surgery. A total protamine sulphate dose of 3.0 mgs/kg was administered in divided doses and given as a continuous infusion. On this regime complete heparin neutralisation was observed 10 min after decannulation, but heparin levels were again detectable in 29% of cases 2 hours later. This phenomenon was found to correlate with the total circulating load of heparin to be neutralised. All cases with detectable postoperative heparin levels had in-vivo protamine sulphate: heparin ratios of less than 1.6. These data suggest that in-vitro assays of protamine sulphate neutralisation of heparin may seriously underestimate the required dose of protamine sulphate following open-heart surgery.
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D002315:Cardiopulmonary Bypass; D005260:Female; D006493:Heparin / Q000097:blood* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D006801:Humans; D007430:Intraoperative Care / Q000379:methods; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011183:Postoperative Complications / Q000517:prevention & control*; D011479:Protamines / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D012306:Risk
chemical_list: D011479:Protamines; D006493:Heparin