Bivalirudin for Maintenance Anticoagulation During Venovenous Extracorporeal Membrane Oxygenation for COVID-19

In its severe manifestation, coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) compromises oxygenation in a manner that is refractory to maximal conventional support and requires escalation to extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO). Maintaining ECMO support for extended durations requires a delicately balanced anticoagulation strategy to maintain circuit viability by preventing thrombus deposition while avoiding excessive anticoagulation yielding hemorrhage —a task that is complicated in COVID-19 secondary to an inherent hypercoagulable state.
Source: Journal of Cardiothoracic and Vascular Anesthesia - Category: Anesthesiology Authors: Tags: Case Report Source Type: research