We use cookies to understand how you use our site and to improve your experience. This includes personalizing content and advertising. To learn more, click here. By continuing to use our site, you accept our use of cookies. Cookie Policy.

Features Partner Sites Information LinkXpress hp
Sign In
Advertise with Us
GLOBETECH PUBLISHING LLC

Download Mobile App




AI Tool Helps Clinicians Prescribe Right Dose of Warfarin to Heart Surgery Patients

By HospiMedica International staff writers
Posted on 14 Mar 2024

Warfarin, a widely used oral anticoagulant, requires personalized dosing for each patient following heart surgery, unlike other drugs which have a standard adult dosage. More...

The dosage determination depends on the International Normalized Ratio (INR) test, a blood test that gauges the blood's clotting time. Achieving the appropriate warfarin dosage is critical; too low a dose could lead to clot formation, whereas too high a dose increases the risk of internal bleeding or other serious complications. Frequent INR monitoring is essential post-initiation of warfarin therapy to assess the patient's drug response. The warfarin dose is then adjusted based on achieving a therapeutic INR range. This dosage adjustment process continues until the desired INR range is attained. However, finding the correct warfarin dose can be challenging due to the multitude of factors influencing its effectiveness, including genetic makeup, kidney and liver function, and the timing of drug initiation post-surgery. Until now, clinicians had to manually consider all these variables for determining the patient's dose. But now, a new artificial intelligence (AI) tool can automatically account for them and calculate a dose for use as a reference.

The AI tool developed by a group of researchers at St. Michael’s Hospital (Toronto, Canada) can help clinicians prescribe warfarin to heart surgery patients by guiding their use of the blood thinner medication. The tool was developed using data from more than 1,000 heart surgery patients who were administered warfarin that included variables such as patient characteristics, health conditions, individual warfarin doses, and response to the anticoagulant. The tool was then tested using a second set of data and validated for accuracy. The tool incorporates two validated AI models: one for predicting the warfarin dose in patients undergoing mechanical valve replacement, and another for dosing in all other heart surgery patients. This AI tool is currently in use at St. Michael’s Hospital, where it has received positive feedback from clinicians.

“People talk about the art of dosing, and some clinicians have a knack for it. But the nice thing about this tool is that it’s an extra layer of validation for patients for whom we’re struggling to get the right dose,” said Lindsay Dryden, St. Michael’s Hospital clinical pharmacist. “It’s something that clinicians can hang their hat on and that gives them a bit more confidence.”

“It’s a predictive tool that’s based off retrospective data – so if a patient comes in with similar characteristics and variables of past patients, we can predict how they might respond to a similar warfarin dose,” added Jacquelin Song, interim manager of Practice Innovation and Change. “This is an extra tool to help support clinical decision-making, almost like a second opinion.”

Related Links:
St. Michael’s Hospital


Gold Member
STI Test
Vivalytic Sexually Transmitted Infection (STI) Array
Gold Member
POC Blood Gas Analyzer
Stat Profile Prime Plus
New
Measuring Rod
seca 233
New
Instrument Cabinet
TRZY-068
Read the full article by registering today, it's FREE! It's Free!
Register now for FREE to HospiMedica.com and get access to news and events that shape the world of Hospital Medicine.
  • Free digital version edition of HospiMedica International sent by email on regular basis
  • Free print version of HospiMedica International magazine (available only outside USA and Canada).
  • Free and unlimited access to back issues of HospiMedica International in digital format
  • Free HospiMedica International Newsletter sent every week containing the latest news
  • Free breaking news sent via email
  • Free access to Events Calendar
  • Free access to LinkXpress new product services
  • REGISTRATION IS FREE AND EASY!
Click here to Register








Channels

Critical Care

view channel
Image: Researchers have taken a major step toward cuff-free blood pressure monitoring (Photo courtesy of Gwyneth Moe/Boston University)

Cuff-Free Blood Pressure Monitoring Device to Improve Early Detection and Management of Hypertension

Hypertension affects nearly half of all adults in the U.S. and remains the leading cause of cardiovascular disease. Regular and accurate blood pressure monitoring is essential for managing this condition,... Read more

Patient Care

view channel
Image: The revolutionary automatic IV-Line flushing device set for launch in the EU and US in 2026 (Photo courtesy of Droplet IV)

Revolutionary Automatic IV-Line Flushing Device to Enhance Infusion Care

More than 80% of in-hospital patients receive intravenous (IV) therapy. Every dose of IV medicine delivered in a small volume (<250 mL) infusion bag should be followed by subsequent flushing to ensure... Read more

Business

view channel
Image: A research collaboration aims to further advance findings in human genomics research in cardiovascular diseases (Photo courtesy of 123RF)

Bayer and Broad Institute Extend Research Collaboration to Develop New Cardiovascular Therapies

A research collaboration will focus on the joint discovery of novel therapeutic approaches based on findings in human genomics research related to cardiovascular diseases. Bayer (Berlin, Germany) and... Read more
Copyright © 2000-2025 Globetech Media. All rights reserved.