The effect of cyanosis on active clotting time during diagnostic catheterization.

INTRODUCTION Cardiac catheterization is a common procedure which needs a careful coagulation monitoring. In our study, we aimed to find factors influencing active clotting time (ACT) following heparin therapy. METHODS ACT of 71 patients who were scheduled to undergo transcutaneous diagnostic catheterization and angiography were measured at baseline, 2 and 60 minutes after 50 IU/kg heparin loading. ACT in two groups of patients (cyanotic and non-cyanotic) was compared. All data were analyzed with Wilcoxon, Mann-Whitney test and Pearson in SPSS 16, P value less than 0.05 was considered significant. RESULTS ACT following heparin at 2nd and 60th minutes was not significantly different in cyanotic and non-cyanotic groups. At 60th minute following heparin administration, ACT decreased more dramatically in older children. CONCLUSION Cyanosis does not affect ACT measures following heparin treatment. Moreover, after 60 minutes, heparin efficacy (ACT values) decreased more with increase in patients' age.