Safety and Feasibility of Argatroban As Anticoagulant in Adults with ECMO

A Prospective Randomized Pilot Trial on Safety and Feasibility of Argatroban As Anticoagulant in Patients with Extracorporeal Membrane Oxygenation (ECMO)

This prospective, randomized, controlled pilot trial aims to assess the safety and feasibility of Argatroban as an alternative anticoagulant to unfractionated heparin in patients receiving extracorporeal membrane oxygenation.

Inclusion Criteria:

• Minimum Age 18 years
• VV- or VA-ECMO therapy
• Minimum of 24h planned ECMO-therapy

Exclusion Criteria:

• History of Heparin-induced thrombocytopenia (HIT)
• High risk of bleeding, contraindication for anticoagulation (eg. active GI-bleeding, Intracerebral bleeding; Platelet count <50G/l, congenital bleeding disorder)
• Pregnancy
• Severe Liver disease (SOFA score liver domain 4 points = Bilirubin >12mg/dl)
• Postoperative admission
• Strong lupus anticoagulant or acquired intrinsic clotting factor deficiency at admission (APTT >50 sec without anticoagulation).