Consequences of suspected heparin-induced thrombocytopenia in the ICU.

Clinical suspicion of heparin-induced thrombocytopenia (HIT) may prompt changes in drug management and alert clinicians to an increased risk of thrombosis. However, thrombocytopenia in the ICU occurs in about 50% of patients, is multifactorial and is due to HIT in <1%. We aimed to describe the consequences of suspected HIT among medical-surgical critically ill patients in terms of drug and device management, and thrombotic outcomes.