Why Give Babies Heparin?

Heparin is an anti-coagulant drug used to keep blood from clotting. Both adult patients and pediatric patients can receive heparin. Heparin is given intravenously, subcutaneously or by an oral route. A physician should oversee a patient receiving heparin, particularly infants since correct dosing is critical. Heparin therapy is used in a variety of infant medical conditions.

IV Flush

• Heparin is commonly used to flush intravenous lines, locks and catheters. Keeping IV lines clear is especially important with babies as they have small veins that can quickly become clogged. The lines used for access to the blood can become clogged with blood clots and medications can no longer flow through the lines. Heparin works to keep clots from forming, and the flush of heparin helps to physically remove stagnant blood.

Thrombophilia

• Thrombophilia is a medical condition where blood clots too easily, according to the March of Dimes. Clots in the blood can grow larger and obstruct normal functioning. Blood clotting disorders can be inherited or acquired. Infants may be treated with heparin if the infant has thrombophilia. Heparin discourages the blood from further clotting and it is generally used in a low dose in this situation.

Blood Transfusions

• When an infant receives a blood transfusion, heparin is often given as well. The heparin helps to keep the transfusion lines clear and to keep the transfused blood from clotting.

Surgery

• Heparin is given to infants prior to surgery to reduce the risk of blood clots forming during surgery. Blood clots can lead to serious medical problems such as embolism, stroke or a heart attack. Administering heparin prior to surgery reduces these risks and makes the infant more stable.

Other Uses

• Heparin can be given to infants to treat other, less common, conditions. Kidney dialysis may necessitate the use of heparin in an infant. Rare disease and conditions related to blood clotting can require the use of heparin in a low or high dose. Heparin is also used to treat the rare disorder disseminated intravascular coagulation, according to the Mayo Clinic.