No abstract

Adoption and implementation of HIT protocol at our institution resulted in significantly more subtherapeutic aPTTs as compared to time prior to protocol. Although not statistically significant, the time required to obtain therapeutic aPTT was reduced by almost 50% after protocol implementation, which could be of clinical importance. Larger studies are needed to continue to assess if standardized protocols are effective in treatment of HIT.

Purpose: Transcatheter aortic valve replacement is a minimally invasive treatment option for patients with aortic stenosis. This study aimed to describe the functional status and determine relationships between patient characteristics, such as age and functional outcomes, following a transcatheter aortic valve replacement procedure in the acute care setting. Methods: Retrospective chart review of 100 patients. Patients were divided into 4 groups: ≤69, 70 to 79, 80 to 89, and 90-plus years of age. General demographics, Functional Status Score for the Intensive Care Unit, and ambulation distance were collected. Results: Mean age was 79.7 (SD = 8.3) years with 56% female. The first day after surgery, 78% were able to participate in out-of-bed activities. Significant improvement in ambulation distance and Functional Status Score for the Intensive Care Unit scores from evaluation to discharge (P < .001) were noted in patients receiving 2 or more visits. No significant differences were found between age groups and outcome variables except that patients in the 90-plus age group were more likely to use an assistive device prior to surgery (P = .004). Conclusions: Patients' status post–transcatheter aortic valve replacement demonstrated improvement in their functional mobility during a short length of stay and were typically discharged home. Age did not appear to significantly impact the patients' ability to participate in early mobility or influence their discharge location.