Cardiopulmonary bypass in humans: bypassing unfractionated heparin.
Review published in The Annals of thoracic surgery (2000)
Abstract
Seven anticoagulants besides unfractionated heparin have been used for human cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB), mainly in patients with heparin-induced thrombocytopenia. The collective experience with these alternative anticoagulants provides a perspective on current efforts aimed at improving CPB anticoagulation. Unfortunately, each alternative currently lacks a standard dosing schedule and a reliable method of monitoring the adequacy of its anticoagulant effect during CPB. Most also lack proven antidotes. Thus, unfractionated heparin remains the anticoagulant of choice for standard CPB.
Abstract sourced from PubMed (NCBI) for the cited record. See the original publication for the authoritative version.
Summary
Seven anticoagulants besides unfractionated heparin have been used for human cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB), mainly in patients with heparin-induced thrombocytopenia. The collective experience with these alternative anticoagulants provides a perspective on current efforts aimed at improving CPB anticoagulation.
Why This Matters for Hirudotherapy
This review discusses seven anticoagulants used as alternatives to unfractionated heparin during human cardiopulmonary bypass, primarily in patients with heparin-induced thrombocytopenia. The authors note that each alternative currently lacks a standard dosing schedule, a reliable monitoring method for anticoagulant adequacy during bypass, and, in most cases, a proven antidote, leaving unfractionated heparin as the anticoagulant of choice for standard cardiopulmonary bypass. The abstract does not mention leeches, hirudin, hirudotherapy, or any leech-derived molecules. The article's connection to the American Society of Hirudotherapy is therefore nonexistent based on the abstract alone, as it focuses entirely on conventional anticoagulant alternatives for surgical bypass.
Citation
Cardiopulmonary bypass in humans: bypassing unfractionated heparin.
Frederiksen · The Annals of thoracic surgery, 2000
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