When Heparin Stopped for Anticoagulation During ECMO Decannulation

Overview

Heparin (regular or unfractionated heparin, not low molecular weight heparin) is given as a bolus (50-100 units per kilogram) at the time of extracorporeal membrane oxygenation(ECMO) cannulation, and by continuous infusion during ECMO. Heparin infusion is regulated to keep the whole blood activated clotting time (ACT) or activated partial thromboplastin time (APTT) at a designated level (usually 1.5 times normal for the ACT or APTT measurement system). An elevated ACT or APTT is associated with high risks of early and late complications,such as bleeding,hematoma,pseudoaneurysm,and arterial-venous fistula. Extracorporeal life support organization(ELSO) make recommendation that the cannulas can be removed ideally after the heparin has been stopped for 30 to 60 minutes.However,the Chinese Thoracis Society recommends that heparin should not be discontinued immediately before ECMO decannulation, but gradually reduced within 24 hours, and then low molecular weight heparin is continued to be given for anticoagulation. Therefore,options of which time heparin stopped remain controversial.The investigators conduct this pilot study to investigate the opportunity of heparin stopped for anticoagulation before ECMO decannulation.

Forty adult patients with cardiac or respiratory failure supported by ECMO are enrolled in the study. Patients are randomly allocated to be treated with either a) heparin has been stopped for 1 hour before ECMO decannulation(regimen A), b) heparin gradually reduced within 24 hours after ECMO decannulation(regimen B).The investigators hypothesize that patients treated with regimen A as compared with patients treated with regimen B would decrease the incidence of complications during the ECMO decannulation period(from 1 hour before ECMO decannulation to 72 hours post decannulation).