Canadian journal of anaesthesia = Journal canadien d'anesthésie
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Exposure to cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB) is associated with postoperative coagulopathy and hemorrhage. Recent literature indicates that heparin rebound occurs almost universally following cardiac surgery. We conducted this pilot study to evaluate if the presence of residual circulating heparin following cardiac surgery can be diagnosed by elevation of activated partial thromboplastin time (APTT). ⋯ Circulating residual heparin is commonly presented following cardiac surgery and does not correlate with APTT. Considering that mixing studies normalize APTT in most samples, elevated APTT following CPB may reflect deficiency of coagulation factors or presence of a coagulation inhibitor such as protamine. Further studies are required to confirm this observation.