Heparin-induced thrombocytopenia and the anesthesiologist.

PURPOSE: All physicians who use heparin should be aware of immune heparin-induced thrombocytopenia (HIT), including anesthesiologists who may need to provide intraoperative anticoagulation for a patient who urgently requires cardiac or vascular surgery but who has acute HIT or a history of recent HIT. SOURCE: The literature dealing with HIT of relevance to anesthesiologists was reviewed, including studies of HIT antibody formation following …