title: The effect of cyanosis on active clotting time during diagnostic catheterization.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Cardiac catheterization is a common procedure which needs a careful coagulation monitoring. In our study, we aimed to find factors influencing active clotting time (ACT) following heparin therapy.
  
  
  METHODS
  ACT of 71 patients who were scheduled to undergo transcutaneous diagnostic catheterization and angiography were measured at baseline, 2 and 60 minutes after 50 IU/kg heparin loading. ACT in two groups of patients (cyanotic and non-cyanotic) was compared. All data were analyzed with Wilcoxon, Mann-Whitney test and Pearson in SPSS 16, P value less than 0.05 was considered significant.
  
  
  RESULTS
  ACT following heparin at 2nd and 60th minutes was not significantly different in cyanotic and non-cyanotic groups. At 60th minute following heparin administration, ACT decreased more dramatically in older children.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Cyanosis does not affect ACT measures following heparin treatment. Moreover, after 60 minutes, heparin efficacy (ACT values) decreased more with increase in patients' age.
authors.affiliation: Madani Heart Hospital, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Tabriz, Iran.
authors.forename: Akbar
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Molaei
authors.forename: Majid
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Malaki
authors.forename: Shahram
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Sadegvand
keywords: Active Clotting Time; Catheterization; Cyanosis; Heparin