OBJECTIVE: This study explores: (1) the feasibility of involvement of nursing staff in routine bedside testing of activated clotting time and (2) joint implementation with resident medical staff of a preformulated plan for management of mediastinal bleeding after cardiac surgery. DESIGN: Patients were divided randomly into two groups, an experimental group (n = 108) subjected to ACT testing and management by protocol, and a control group (n = 146) treated by independent medical decisions. RESULTS: Bleeding, volume of blood replaced, abnormal coagulation profiles and reoperations to control bleeding and its consequences were all reduced in the study group. CONCLUSION: We concluded that bedside measurement of activated clotting time by nursing staff, associated with therapy based on a flow diagram, enhanced the overall management of early mediastinal bleeding after cardiac surgery as compared with independent management decisions by resident medical staff. In addition, the method provided a sensitive and reliable means of detecting and correcting rebound heparinization in the early postoperative period.

1992
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