American Society of Hirudotherapy

Challenging Argatroban Management of a Child on Extracorporeal Support and Subsequent Heart Transplant

Research article published in Seminars in cardiothoracic and vascular anesthesia (2015)

Last Updated: June 18, 2026Reviewed by: ASH Editorial Board
Research article — evidence reviewArticle reference
Evidence: Case reportDrug DevelopmentLatham GJ et al. · Seminars in cardiothoracic and vascular anesthesia, 2015

Abstract

A 6-year-old child developed heparin-induced thrombocytopenia while on extracorporeal life support. Hours after a difficult transition from heparin to argatroban for anticoagulation therapy, the child underwent heart transplantation. Intraoperative management was plagued with circuit thrombus formation while on cardiopulmonary bypass and subsequent massive hemorrhage after bypass. We review the child's anticoagulation management, clinical challenges encountered, and review current literature related to the use of argatroban in pediatric cardiac surgery.

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

Publication typeCase ReportsJournal Article
Indexed MeSH termsAntithrombinsArginineCardiopulmonary BypassChildExchange Transfusion, Whole BloodExtracorporeal Membrane OxygenationHeart TransplantationHeparinHirudinsHumansMalePeptide Fragments

Summary

Challenging Argatroban Management of a Child on Extracorporeal Support and Subsequent Heart Transplant.

Why This Matters for Hirudotherapy

This case report details the anticoagulation management of a 6-year-old child who developed heparin-induced thrombocytopenia while on extracorporeal life support and subsequently underwent heart transplantation. The authors describe a difficult transition from heparin to argatroban, complicated by intraoperative circuit thrombus formation during cardiopulmonary bypass and subsequent massive hemorrhage, along with a review of current literature on argatroban in pediatric cardiac surgery. The abstract makes no mention of leeches, hirudin, direct thrombin inhibitors as a class, or any hirudotherapy-related content. No defensible ASH relevance exists based on this abstract. The study is limited to a single patient's clinical course with no leech-derived therapy involved.

Citation

Challenging Argatroban Management of a Child on Extracorporeal Support and Subsequent Heart Transplant

Latham GJ et al. · Seminars in cardiothoracic and vascular anesthesia, 2015

DOI

Added to ASH library: May 27, 2026 · Site last updated: June 18, 2026

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