American Society of Hirudotherapy

Bivalirudin as an Alternative Anticoagulant for Cardiopulmonary Bypass During Adult Cardiac Surgery-A Change in Practice

Case report published in J Extra Corpor Technol (2017)

Last Updated: June 18, 2026Reviewed by: ASH Editorial Board
Research article — evidence reviewArticle reference
Evidence: Case reportDrug DevelopmentClinical LiteratureGatt P et al. · J Extra Corpor Technol, 2017

Abstract

The referral of patients for open heart surgery, presenting with a history of heparin hypersensitivity instigated a multidisciplinary effort to find an alternative anticoagulant to heparin. The various options mentioned in the literature call for changes in the routine practice of open heart surgery on cardiopulmonary bypass. These changes involve mostly the perfusion setup and conduct on bypass and to a lesser extent the anesthetic and surgical practice. Nevertheless, the different professions involved in the cardiac surgical firm discussed the proposed changes in a multidisciplinary effort. A new protocol was drafted, endorsed, and executed. The authors highlight these changes and their successful use in the subsequent case study.

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

Publication typeCase ReportsJournal Article
Indexed MeSH termsAgedAlgorithmsAnticoagulantsCardiopulmonary BypassCombined Modality TherapyCoronary Artery DiseaseDrug Administration ScheduleHirudinsHumansMalePeptide FragmentsRecombinant ProteinsThromboembolismTreatment Outcome

Summary

A multidisciplinary team developed and implemented a new protocol using bivalirudin as an alternative to heparin for adult cardiopulmonary bypass in patients with heparin hypersensitivity undergoing open heart surgery.

Context

This case report describes a multidisciplinary effort to develop and implement a clinical protocol for using an alternative anticoagulant to heparin in patients presenting with heparin hypersensitivity who required cardiopulmonary bypass for open heart surgery. The authors detail modifications to perfusion setup and bypass conduct and report successful execution of the protocol in a subsequent case. The abstract does not name the specific anticoagulant used, nor does it mention leeches, hirudotherapy, hirudin, or leech-secretome components. CAVEAT: This is a single case report with no control group; the alternative anticoagulant is not identified in the abstract.

Citation

Reference (Vancouver style)

Gatt P, Galea SA, Busuttil W, Grima C, Muscat J, Farrugia Y. Bivalirudin as an Alternative Anticoagulant for Cardiopulmonary Bypass During Adult Cardiac Surgery-A Change in Practice. J Extra Corpor Technol. 2017;49(1):49-53. doi:10.1051/ject/201749049. PMID: 28298666

Bibliographic details (authors, volume, pages, DOI) are taken from the PubMed record.

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