HEPARIN INDUCED THROMBOCYTOPENIA AND CARDIAC SURGERY

Abstract

BACKGROUND Heparin induced thrombocytopenia (HIT) is a serious complication related to the heparintreatment and might lead to the life-threatening consequences such as arterial and venousthrombosis. The patient with HIT scheduled for cardiac surgery represents serious problembecause heparin, most common used anticoagulation drug during cardiac surgery, mustbe avoided. CONCLUSIONS From the results of the recent clinical studies it seems that direct thrombin inhibitors,especially bivalirudin represent an acceptable alternative to the heparin anticoagulationduring the cardiac surgery