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OBJECTIVES To determine the percentage of patients with >10% reduction in heparin infusion rate within 48 hours of antithrombin III (ATIII) administration. Secondary objectives include the achievement of therapeutic anticoagulation and determining the days of subtherapeutic infusion prior to supplementation. METHODS Retrospective chart review of 12 patients younger than 18 years of age who received ATIII concentrate supplementation while on continuous heparin infusion. Specific indications for heparin infusion therapy included extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO), treatment of thrombus, and post implantation of ventricular assist device(s). RESULTS From time of heparin initiation to ATIII supplementation, patients spent a mean 4.9 ± 2.6 days of subtherapeutic infusion and required uptitration from a mean of 15.3 ± 4.4 units/kg/hr to a mean rate of 40.7 ± 9.5 units/kg/hr. 58.3% of the patients (n = 7) had a ≥10% reduction from the baseline heparin infusion rate within 48 hours of ATIII administration. Those patients considered responders (≥10% reduction from baseline rate) had a slightly higher mean baseline antithrombin level (76.3% ± 22.0% vs. 58.6% ± 2.7% in non-responders, p = 0.1) and were administered comparable doses of ATIII. ATIII supplementation did appear to increase the time of therapeutic anticoagulation within the 48 hours. CONCLUSIONS Administration of ATIII is associated with >10% decrease in heparin requirements in more than half of the patients identified. In those patients deemed non-responders, there was a trend towards lower baseline antithrombin serum levels. Further studies are warranted to determine if the lack of response in some patients is due to inadequate dosing of ATIII or any patient-related factors.

OBJECTIVE To compare the efficacy and safety of dexmedetomidine and fentanyl for sedation in mechanically ventilated premature neonates. METHODS This was a retrospective, observational case-control study in a level III neonatal intensive care unit. Forty-eight premature neonates requiring mechanical ventilation were included. Patients received fentanyl (n=24) or dexmedetomidine (n=24) for pain or sedation. Each group also received fentanyl and lorazepam boluses as needed for agitation. The primary outcomes were efficacy and frequency of acute adverse events associated with each drug. Days on mechanical ventilation, stooling patterns, feeding tolerance, and neurologic outcomes were also evaluated. RESULTS There were no significant differences in baseline demographics between the dexmedetomidine and fentanyl patients. Patients in the dexmedetomidine group required less adjunctive sedation and had more days free of additional sedation in comparison to fentanyl (54.1% vs. 16.5%, p CONCLUSIONS Dexmedetomidine was safe and effective for sedation in the premature neonates included in this study. Prospective randomized-controlled trials are needed before routine use of dexmedetomidine can be recommended.