Optimized Heparin Regimen in Vascular Surgery

Peripheral revascularization surgery is usually performed in high-risk patients, suffering from major comorbidities. Complications associated with vascular surgery include coronary problems, arrhythmias, failure of revascularization and thrombosis. In order to prevent these complications and possible re-interventions it is essential to optimize the intraoperative path.

Unfractionated heparin is commonly used during arterial vascular surgery to prevent thrombosis and accumulation of thrombi at the surgical site. UFH is administered before clamping and blood flow interruption. However, the best heparin regimen to achieve optimal anticoagulation for peripheral revascularization remains unknown, with current recommendations based on data from the coronary literature and guidelines. Few studies have assessed the effect of vascular clamping and blood flow interruption on the anticoagulation in the distal vascular bed.

Perioperative monitoring of coagulation is important to diagnose potential causes of hemorrhage and guide hemostatic therapies. Routine laboratory-based coagulation tests such as prothrombin time (PT), International Normalized Ratio (INR), activated partial thromboplastin time (aPTT) and platelet count are used to assess the patient's coagulation status. However, the value of these tests has been questioned in the acute perioperative setting for the following reasons: substantial delays between blood sampling and results, tests performed on plasma rather than whole blood and lack of information on platelet function.

The activated clotting time (ACT) is used to monitor anticoagulation and, indirectly, concentrations of UFH. The ACT is measured on whole blood in cuvettes containing high concentrations of activators, typically celite or kaolin. Modern methods are completely automated. ACT measurement with point-of-care devices is used during procedures requiring anticoagulation, such as cardiopulmonary bypass, interventional cardiology and hemodialysis. In vascular surgery, the target ACT is not clearly defined and therefore not systematically monitored.

Thromboelastography (TEG) is a bedside coagulation test that enables evaluation of all components of hemostasis. An advantage of TEG over conventional tests of hemostasis is that it is performed on whole blood, taking into consideration the role of interacting blood elements. The TEG can also be adapted to different clinical situations. Activators such as tissue factor, celite and thrombin can be added to whole blood to accelerate the analysis. TEG cups coated with heparinase can also be used to degrade heparin without affecting other coagulation parameters.

Ankle-brachial (ABI) and toe-brachial (TBI) indexes are currently used to evaluate patients with peripheral arterial disease. These non-invasive tests provide information about peripheral blood flow. The ankle-brachial index is the ratio of the systolic blood pressure at the ankle to that measured at the brachial artery. The diagnostic limits of the ABI have been confirmed in several large-scale studies. Conditions associated with medial calcifications, such as diabetes, chronic kidney disease or advanced age, can lead to false results due to vessel stiffness. The toe vessels are less susceptible to vessel stiffness, which makes the TBI useful.

Methods:

Monitoring and postoperative analgesia will be left to the discretion of the attending anesthesiologist. Surgery will be performed under general or regional anesthesia. For safety reasons, patients under regional anesthesia will automatically be assigned to receive a fixed dose of heparin.

UFH will be administered 2 minutes prior to vascular clamping according to randomization. Blood samples will be collected at the following time points for ACT and TEG analysis: following induction of anesthesia, 30 minutes after heparin administration, and on arrival in the recovery room. Heparin will be neutralized with protamine if needed.

Intraoperative blood losses will be recorded. Administration of crystalloids, colloids and blood products during surgery will be noted. Blood samples to assess cardiac troponin levels will be collected in the recovery room and on the day following surgery. Ankle-brachial and toe-brachial indexes will be measured preoperatively and postoperatively in the recovery room. The occurrence of cardiovascular complications will be noted during the hospital stay. The incidence of vascular re-interventions will be noted 30 days following surgery.