Heparin utilization during arterial revascularization.

These studies demonstrate that therapeutic levels of heparin are achieved when either 100 u/kg or 150 u/kg are administered prior to arterial or aortic cross clamping during peripheral vascular reconstructive procedures. They further demonstrate that adequate levels of heparin are maintained for at least one hour even with the lower dosage. If heparin effect is not reversed, many patients will be returned to the recovery ward with therapeutic levels of heparin.This is undesirable and can be averted by administering appropriate doses of protamine sulfate. Excesses of protamine sulfate should be avoided since unbound protamine sulfate has anticoagulant as well as cardiovascular effects.