Bivalirudin for cardiopulmonary bypass in a patient with heparin allergy
Case report published in J Cardiothorac Surg (2023)
Abstract
BACKGROUND: Hypersensitivity reactions to heparin are uncommon conditions but pose a serious clinical problem for patients requiring cardiopulmonary bypass. Bivalirudin is a reversible direct thrombin inhibitor that can be used instead of heparin. CASE REPORT: A 49-year-old male patient was admitted to our hospital for coronary artery bypass graft operation with mitral insufficiency and tricuspid valve insufficiency. Heparin allergy was confirmed by skin biopsy and skin tests. Due to this allergy, we used bivalirudin (Bivacard VEM drug, Turkey) during the surgery. A loading dose of 1.0 mg/kg (100 mg) bivalirudin was administered through the central line and a continuous infusion of 2.5 mg/kg/h of the anticoagulant was initiated following the approved protocol. Serial ACTs were obtained at 15-minute intervals during the procedure and the measurements were 330s, 320s, 350s, 360s, and 340s consecutively. Additional boluses of 0.5 mg/kg (50 mg) were administered for each measurement. Left anterior descending, obtuse marginal arteries and the right coronary artery were grafted with the left internal mammary and saphenous veins. Also, mitral valve replacement with St Jude mechanical heart valve and tricuspid ring annuloplasty was performed with Medtronic Duran ring. After the surgery, the patient had an uneventful period in the postoperative intensive care unit with a total of 600ml and 300ml chest tube drainage for two days and was discharged on the 7th day. CONCLUSION: Alternative anticoagulation strategies are needed for cardiopulmonary bypass in patients unable to use heparin. Bivalirudin may be recommended as a viable alternative anticoagulant in patients with heparin allergy during cardiopulmonary bypass. However, each patient should be evaluated individually and it should not be forgotten that more than recommended doses may be needed.
Abstract sourced from PubMed (NCBI) for the cited record. See the original publication for the authoritative version.
Резюме
Hypersensitivity reactions to heparin are uncommon conditions but pose a serious clinical problem for patients requiring cardiopulmonary bypass.
Почему это важно для гирудотерапии
This case report describes the use of bivalirudin — characterized in the abstract as a reversible direct thrombin inhibitor — as an alternative to heparin for anticoagulation during cardiopulmonary bypass in a 49-year-old male with heparin allergy confirmed by skin biopsy and skin tests. A 1.0 mg/kg loading dose followed by a 2.5 mg/kg/h continuous infusion was administered, with serial activated clotting time monitoring at 15-minute intervals and additional boluses; the patient recovered uneventfully and was discharged on the seventh postoperative day. The abstract does not mention leeches, hirudin, or hirudotherapy, and provides no information connecting bivalirudin to the leech secretome or to any leech-derived compound. Caveat: This is a single case report involving a pharmaceutical anticoagulant; based on the abstract alone, it has no direct relevance to hirudotherapy or to ASH's domain.
Цитирование
Bivalirudin for cardiopulmonary bypass in a patient with heparin allergy.
Boysan E et al. · J Cardiothorac Surg, 2023
Связанный клинический контекст
Узнайте, как это исследование связано с клинической практикой
Добавлено в библиотеку ASH: May 27, 2026 · Последнее обновление сайта: June 18, 2026