NAPA’s Linda Shore-Lesserson Leads Study Recommending Concise Guidelines for Anticoagulation during Cardiopulmonary Bypass Surgery

MELVILLE, N.Y., Jan. 31, 2018 -- North American Partners in Anesthesia announced today that one of its leading anesthesiologists, Linda Shore-Lesserson, MD, served as the lead author on an innovative study that has resulted in precise recommendations regarding anticoagulation practices during heart surgery.  Anticoagulation therapy is critically important during cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB), a technique that temporarily takes over the function of the heart and lungs during heart surgery. The study was a joint effort of The Society of Thoracic Surgeons (STS), the Society of Cardiovascular Anesthesiologists (SCA) and the American Society of ExtraCorporeal Technology (AmSECT).

NAPA Anesthesiologist

The lack of concise guidance since cardiopulmonary bypass was developed in the 1960s resulted in substantial variation in heparin dosing, monitoring, reversal and the use of heparin alternatives in patients with contraindications.  The group developed the recommendations based on the critical appraisal of almost 100 highly cited articles that were included in the final review. The guideline was recently published in The Annals of Thoracic Surgery, Anesthesia & Analgesia and the Journal of ExtraCorporeal Technology.

“It is our hope that these guidelines will help clinicians practice consistent and safe anticoagulation and that there will be more standardization in practice,” said Shore-Lesserson, MD. “Surgeons, anesthesiologists and perfusionists will better appreciate the science behind the practices that they conduct every day.”

The new clinical practice guideline offers evidence-based recommendations that include optimal heparin dosing for initiation and maintenance of cardiopulmonary bypass; identification of contraindications to the use of heparin; options for alternatives to heparin; and ideal methods for reversal of anticoagulation after CPB. A link to the guideline can be found here: www.annalsthoracicsurgery.org/article/S0003-4975(17)31478-9/fulltext

“Innovation is a way of life at NAPA, and Dr. Shore-Lesserson’s role as lead author of this study is a perfect illustration of this core value at work,” noted NAPA CEO John Di Capua, MD. “The ultimate goal of this study is to achieve optimal patient outcomes, an objective NAPA continues to pursue each and every day.”

About North American Partners in Anesthesia
As a clinician-led organization, North American Partners in Anesthesia (NAPA) is redefining healthcare, delivering unsurpassed excellence to its partners and patients every day. In three decades, NAPA has grown to become one of the nation’s leading single-specialty anesthesia and perioperative management companies, serving more than one million patients annually in more than 200 healthcare facilities throughout the Northeast, Mid-Atlantic, Midwest and Southeast. For more information, please visit www.napaanesthesia.com.

Media Contact: Barbara Cerrone
North American Partners in Anesthesia
P: (516) 532-6715
E: [email protected]

A photo accompanying this announcement is available at http://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/c93c2f9e-8c4e-44bf-945d-a3299dad29b3