Evaluation of bivalirudin-based anticoagulation for extracorporeal membrane oxygenation, including patients with COVID-19

BACKGROUND: Although unfractionated heparin (UFH) has traditionally been used for anticoagulation during extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO), bivalirudin may be preferred due to fewer complications. A prior medication use evaluation of ECMO patients who received bivalirudin resulted in dosing updates for our pharmacist-directed bivalirudin protocol. This study intended to evaluate the efficacy and safety of bivalirudin for anticoagulation during ECMO support post-protocol initiation. METHODS: This was a retrospective, single-center, pre-post study. Adult patients requiring ECMO support for at least 24 h and who received bivalirudin between January 1, 2015 to July 31, 2018 (pre-group) and May 1, 2019 to June 30, 2021 (post-group) were included. RESULTS: There were 38 patients in the pre- and 35 patients in the post-group. The primary outcome, median time to two consecutive activated partial thromboplastin times (aPTTs) within therapeutic range for the initial goal range, was 8.9 h in the pre- and 14.2 h in the post-group (p = 0.517). In a subgroup analysis of the post-group, the primary outcome was higher in patients with COVID-19 (26.5 vs. 8.6 h, p = 0.018). The median number of dose adjustments to achieve goal aPTT was higher in COVID-19 patients (4 vs. 2, p = 0.017). CONCLUSION: These results suggest that a standardized pharmacist-directed protocol for bivalirudin in ECMO achieves timely therapeutic anticoagulation levels. Patients with COVID-19 trended toward longer times to two consecutive therapeutic aPTTs. Further studies are needed to evaluate dosing strategies in patients with and without COVID-19.

Abstract sourced from PubMed (NCBI) for the cited record. See the original publication for the authoritative version.

In a retrospective pre-post study of a pharmacist-directed bivalirudin protocol, 38 pre-protocol and 35 post-protocol ECMO patients reached therapeutic aPTT at similar times (8.9 vs 14.2 h); COVID-19 patients needed longer and more dose adjustments.

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