Anticoagulation with temporary Impella device in patients with heparin-induced thrombocytopenia: A case series.

Anticoagulation with temporary Impella device in patients with heparin-induced thrombocytopenia: A case series. Int J Artif Organs. 2020 Oct 14;:391398820964810 Authors: Hohlfelder B, Militello MA, Tong MZ, Soltesz EG, Wanek MR Abstract The Impella device is a percutaneous ventricular assist devices that requires administration of heparin via a continuous purge solution. Patients on Impella device support may experience hemolysis with accompanying thrombocytopenia generating suspicion for heparin-induced thrombocytopenia (HIT). However, data and recommendations for use of non-heparin anticoagulants with Impella device are lacking. Therefore, we performed a retrospective cohort analysis of patients requiring bivalirudin during Impella device support to describe the safety and efficacy of bivalirudin as an alternative anticoagulant during Impella device support. Nine patients were included in the evaluation which analyzed Impella device purge flow and purge pressure along with bivalirudin dosing requirements, incidence of thrombosis, and incidence of pump failure. All patients had a positive platelet factor-4 IgG ELISA test, and the serotonin release assay was positive in four patients. After initiation of bivalirudin, the median (15th, 85th percentile) nadir purge flow decreased by 76% (5%, 88%) and the median (15th, 85th percentile) peak purge pressure increased by 86% (21%, 143%). At the time of bivalirudin discontinuation, the medi...
Source: The International Journal of Artificial Organs - Category: Transplant Surgery Authors: Tags: Int J Artif Organs Source Type: research