OBJECTIVE:

To evaluate the impact of sheath management on bleeding rates.

BACKGROUND:

The procedural characteristics and anticoagulant regimen determine the frequency of postoperative bleeding complications following percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI).

METHODS:

This subanalysis of the SafeTy and Efficacy of Enoxaparin in PCI patients, an internationaL randomized Evaluation (STEEPLE) trial evaluated the relative impact of enoxaparin or unfractionated heparin (UFH) on the rate of non-coronary artery bypass graft-related major and minor bleeding, according to sheath management procedures in 3,528 patients undergoing elective PCI with a femoral approach.

RESULTS:

Sheaths were removed at a median time of 54 min with enoxaparin 0.5 mg/kg, compared with 3 hr 14 min with enoxaparin 0.75 mg/kg and 2 hr 24 min with UFH. Early sheath removal (within 30 min from the end of PCI) was associated with reduced bleeding in patients receiving 0.5 or 0.75 mg/kg enoxaparin compared with UFH (enoxaparin 0.5 mg/kg: 4.9% vs. 10.8%; P < 0.001; enoxaparin 0.75 mg/kg: 5.0% vs. 10.8%; P < 0.001). Compared with UFH, major and minor bleeding was halved when enoxaparin (0.5 mg/kg and 0.75 mg/kg) was used in combination with a closure device (4.4% and 5.3% vs. 10.5% with UFH) or smaller (<7 Fr) sheath sizes (4.9% and 6.0% vs. 9.3%).

CONCLUSION:

This analysis shows that early sheath removal can be performed safely following elective PCI in patients receiving enoxaparin. Enoxaparin use was associated with less major and minor bleeding compared with UFH, when either a closure device or a smaller sheath size was used.