American Society of Hirudotherapy

Successful pediatric heart transplantation with bivalirudin use in a cyanotic single ventricle patient with an intracorporeal continuous flow ventricular assist device and heparin-induced thrombocytopenia

Case report published in Indian Journal of Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery (2025)

Last Updated: June 18, 2026Reviewed by: ASH Editorial Board
Research article — evidence reviewArticle reference
Evidence: Case reportClinical TrialsDrug DevelopmentSainathan S, Mulinari L · Indian Journal of Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery, 2025

Abstract

We describe a case of profound coagulopathy during orthotopic heart transplantation in a cyanotic single ventricle pediatric patient with an intracorporeal continuous flow ventricular assist device performed on bivalirudin for heparin-induced thrombocytopenia. This was successfully managed with central veno-arterial extracorporeal membrane oxygenation and hemofiltration as an adjunct to treat bivalirudin-induced coagulopathy due to lack of a reversal agent for bivalirudin.

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

Publication typeCase ReportsJournal Article

Summary

Successful orthotopic heart transplant in a cyanotic single ventricle pediatric patient on continuous-flow VAD with HIT, with bivalirudin anticoagulation managed using V-A ECMO and hemofiltration as adjuncts due to lack of bivalirudin reversal agent.

Why This Matters for Hirudotherapy

This case report describes a cyanotic single-ventricle pediatric patient with an intracorporeal continuous-flow ventricular assist device and heparin-induced thrombocytopenia who underwent orthotopic heart transplantation anticoagulated with bivalirudin. Profound coagulopathy developed and was managed with central veno-arterial extracorporeal membrane oxygenation and hemofiltration, partly because bivalirudin lacks a reversal agent. The abstract does not mention hirudin, leeches, leech therapy, or the leech secretome, so no direct connection to hirudotherapy can be made from this source. Relevance to ASH's domain, if any, is not established by the abstract. The evidence is limited to a single case report with minimal detail on outcomes beyond acute management.

Citation

Successful pediatric heart transplantation with bivalirudin use in a cyanotic single ventricle patient with an intracorporeal continuous flow ventricular assist device and heparin-induced thrombocytopenia.

Sainathan S, Mulinari L · Indian Journal of Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery, 2025

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

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