TY  - JOUR
T1  - Computer-assisted dosing of heparin: Management with a pharmacy-based anticoagulation service
AU  - Kershaw B, White RH, Mungall D, Van Houten J, Brettfeld S
Y1  - 1994/05/09
N1  - 10.1001/archinte.1994.00420090089009
JO  - Archives of Internal Medicine
SP  - 1005
EP  - 1011
VL  - 154
IS  - 9
N2  - Background: 
    Expert consultation by means of established practice guidelines has been shown to lead to improved accuracy of inpatient anticoagulation therapy, with a reduction in the frequency of hemorrhagic complications. We evaluated a different strategy to improve the accuracy of in-hospital anticoagulation: pharmacybased, computer-assisted dosing of intravenous heparin therapy.Methods: 
    Patients treated with computer-assisted dosing of heparin (N=131) were compared with a randomly selected historical cohort (N=57) in whom heparin therapy was managed by the primary physician. All patients treated by the pharmacy team received a bolus of heparin, 70 U/kg of ideal body weight, except for patients with pulmonary embolism, who received 100 U/kg of ideal body weight. A computer-generated infusion dose was selected (generally 13 to 16 U/kg per hour). The target was an activated partial thromboplastin time (APTT) ratio of 1.8 times the patient's baseline APTT, with a therapeutic range of 1.5 to 2.5 times baseline. Computer-assisted dosage recommendations were generated after each APTT measurement.Results: 
    In the historical control group, 62% of the patients achieved a therapeutic APTT during the first 24 hours; 17% failed to reach a therapeutic level by 48 hours. The median time to reach a therapeutic APTT was 15 hours. Of all 696 APTTs in this group, 42% were below, 43% in, and 15% above the therapeutic range. In the computer-assisted group, 90% achieved a therapeutic APTT within 24 hours (P<.001); 97% had a therapeutic APTT by 48 hours (P<.01). The median time to achieve a therapeutic APTT was 7 hours (P<.001). Of all 880 APTTs in this group, 17% were below, 75% in, and 8% above the therapeutic range (P<.001).Conclusions: 
    Pharmacy-based, computer-assisted dosing of heparin is feasible and results in faster and more accurate anticoagulant dosing.(Arch Intern Med. 1994;154:1005-1011)
SN  - 0003-9926
M3  - doi: 10.1001/archinte.1994.00420090089009
UR  - http://dx.doi.org/10.1001/archinte.1994.00420090089009
ER  -