Control of heparinisation during cardiopulmonary bypass

Abstract
Summary: A rational approach to the control of heparinisation during open heart surgery is advocated. Some of the possible and potential shortcomings of the time‐based heparin protocols in current use are presented.The use of a recent, simple automated device ‘Hemochron’ to estimate the Activated Clotting Time is described and it is found to be an economical and efficient method to monitor heparinisation during cardiopulmonary bypass.