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Heparin (Unfractionated)

Acute PE/DVT treatment, ACS adjunct, Atrial fibrillation

Indications

  • Acute PE/DVT treatment
  • ACS adjunct
  • Atrial fibrillation

Adult dosing

  • pe dvt: dose: 80; unit: units/kg bolus then 18 units/kg/hr; route: IV; weightBased: true; acs: dose: 60; unit: units/kg bolus (max 4000u) then 12 units/kg/hr (max 1000u/hr); route: IV; weightBased: true

Pediatric dosing

  • treatment: dose: 75; unit: units/kg bolus then 20 units/kg/hr; route: IV; weightBased: true

Contraindications

  • Active major bleeding
  • History of HIT
  • Severe thrombocytopenia

Clinical pearls

  • Target aPTT 1.5-2.5x normal (institution-specific protocol)
  • Check aPTT 6 hours after bolus then adjust per institutional nomogram
  • Reversal: protamine 1mg per 100 units heparin given in last 2-3 hours
  • Weight-based dosing superior to fixed-dose protocols

Source and review

  • ACCP Guidelines; AHA/ACC ACS Guidelines. Last reviewed: 2024-11-01