Volume 33, Nº 3, Maio e Junho 2020
DOI: https://doi.org/10.36660/ijcs.20200077
EDITORIAL
Is Bovine Heparin, an Old Fellow, a Safe Anticoagulation Approach during Extracorporeal Circulation Inside Cardiac Operating Room?
Christianne Bretas Vieira
Ivis Levi Fernandes Martins
Antithrombotic agents include anticoagulants, antiplatelet and fibrinolytic drugs. They are prescribed in several situations related to hemostasis disturbances that favor thrombi formation. Since bleeding is a common adverse effect of these drugs, a cost-benefit analysis of antithrombotic therapy prior to surgery should be performed.1 In order to consider the preoperative therapy for patients undergoing cardiac surgery, the risk of thrombosis must outweigh the risk of bleeding. Nonetheless, the literature has reported the use of anticoagulant therapy with unfractionated heparin (UFH) during extracorporeal circulation (ECC) inside and outside the cardiac operating room.1-4
Keywords: Heparin; Blood Coagulation; Extracorporeal Circulation; Cardiac Surgical Procedures; Patient Safety.
