Effectiveness of Protocol Guided Heparin Anticoagulation in Patients with the TandemHeart Percutaneous Ventricular Assist Device

The purpose of this analysis is to assess the effectiveness of heparin anticoagulation in cardiogenic shock patients with TandemHeart percutaneous ventricular assist device support for which the institution’s TandemHeart heparin protocol was implemented compared to those managed without protocol. This retrospective analysis included 15 patients in the protocol group and 10 patients in the nonprotocol group. Patients in the protocol group had a higher percentage of therapeutic activated partial thromboplastin time (aPTT) and lower percentage of supra-therapeutic aPTT values compared to the nonprotocol group. We conclude that TandemHeart anticoagulation may be more effectively managed through the use of a protocol than without any protocol.