Podcast #441: Is Heparin Worthless for ACS?

Author: Don Stader, MD

Educational Pearls:

• Recent study demonstrated patients with non-STEMI treated with heparin had no difference in survival, but had an increased risk of major bleeding
• Heparin may be an outdated medication in the era of dual anti-platelet therapy and PCI
• Heparin may fall to the wayside like other former treatments for ACS such as morphine, oxygen and nitroglycerin as far as mortality benefit

References:

Chen JY, He PC, Liu YH, Wei XB, Jiang L, Guo W, Duan CY, Guo YS, Yu XP, Li J, Li WS, Zhou YL, Lin CY, Luo JF, Yu DQ, Chen ZJ, Chen W, Chen YY, Guo ZQ, Geng QS, Tan N. Association of Parenteral Anticoagulation Therapy With Outcomes in Chinese Patients Undergoing Percutaneous Coronary Intervention for Non-ST-Segment Elevation Acute Coronary Syndrome. JAMA Intern Med. 2019 Feb 1;179(2):186-194. doi: 10.1001/jamainternmed.2018.5953. PubMed PMID: 30592483

Summarized by Travis Barlock, MS4 | Edited by Erik Verzemnieks, MD