The optimum heparin monitoring method during extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) is unknown. We report a protocol utilizing only anti-factor Xa (anti-Xa) to manage anticoagulation in 22 consecutive ECMO patients. Anti-Xa was monitored with heparin titration every hour until goal 0.4-0.8 IU/ml. Once therapeutic, monitoring was progressively spaced up to every 6 hours. Patients received frequent antithrombin III (ATIII). Extracorporeal membrane oxygenation indications were as follows: 13 cardiorespiratory failures, eight extracorporeal cardiopulmonary resuscitations (ECPRs), and one pulmonary hypertension. Median weight was 4 kg, age 12.5 days, and ECMO duration 88 hours. Survival was 50%. Mean heparin dose was 38 ± 11 unit/kg/hr. Eight patients received no heparin for median 9 hours because of postoperative bleeding. Compared with prior activated clotting time (ACT) protocol, there were 20 fewer blood draws per day to manage anticoagulation, p < 0.001. Only 9% of the anti-Xa levels were outside therapeutic range versus 22% using ACT, p < 0.01. Six patients had bleeding complications, and seven had oxygenator change-out. Change-out was associated with blood product administration and bleeding but not with heparin-free period (p = 0.39). Survival to discharge was higher among those who did not require circuit/oxygenator change-outs, 4/7 versus 7/7 (p < 0.01). Anti-factor Xa-based ECMO heparin management protocol is feasible, decreases blood sampling and heparin infusion adjustments, and does not appear to increase complications.

Intravascular hemolysis with elevated plasma-free hemoglobin (PFH) complicates extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO). In 50 consecutive pediatric cardiac patients requiring ECMO, we sought to describe the relationship between PFH and clinical outcomes; primary outcomes were acute kidney injury (AKI) and prolonged (>14 days) renal replacement therapy (RRT). Median age was 35 days, median weight 3.9 kg, and median ECMO duration 4.2 days. Seventy-eight percent (39/50) weaned off ECMO; survival to discharge was 50% (25/50). Seventy percent (35/50) had AKI on ECMO. Seventy-seven percent (30/39) required RRT post-ECMO; median duration was 5.2 days (0, 14.2). Prolonged RRT was associated with higher daily PFH (67.5 mg/dL [54.1, 102.5] vs. 46.7 mg/dL [40, 72.6], p = .025) and higher peak PFH (120 mg/dL [90, 200] vs. 60 mg/dL [40, 135], p = .016). After adjusting for ECMO duration and oliguria/elevated creatinine on ECMO day 0, peak PFH >90 mg/dL was associated with prolonged RRT (operating room [OR] = 18, confidence interval [CI] 1.9–167.8). Patients who died had higher daily PFH (65 mg/dL [51.6, 111.7] vs. 42.5 mg/dL [37.5, 60], p = .0040). Adjusting for ECMO duration and blood product administration, daily PFH >53 mg/dL was associated with mortality (OR 4.8, CI 1.01–23.3). Elevated PFH during pediatric cardiac ECMO is associated with prolonged RRT and non-survival to discharge. Initiatives to decrease PFH burden may improve clinical outcomes.

Perioperative transfusion of blood products is associated with increased morbidity and mortality after pediatric cardiac surgery. We report the results of a quality improvement project aimed at decreasing perioperative blood product administration and bleeding after pediatric cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB) surgery. A multidisciplinary team evaluated baseline data from 99 consecutive CPB patients, focusing on the variability in transfusion management and bleeding outcomes, to create a standardized bleeding and transfusion management protocol. A total of 62 subsequent patients were evaluated after implementation of the protocol: 17 with single pass hemoconcentrated (SPHC) blood transfusion and 45 with modified ultrafiltration (MUF). Implementation of the protocol with SPHC blood led to significant decrease in transfusion of every blood product in the cardiovascular operating room and first 6 hours in cardiovascular intensive care unit ([CVICU] p < .05). Addition of MUF to the protocol led to further decrease in transfusion of all blood products compared to preprotocol. Patients <2 months old had 49% decrease in total blood product administration: 155 mL/kg preprotocol, 117 mL/kg protocol plus SPHC, and 79 mL/kg protocol plus MUF (p < .01). There were significant decreases in postoperative bleeding in the first hour after CVICU admission: 6 mL/kg preprotocol, 3.8 mL/kg protocol plus SPHC, and 2 mL/kg protocol plusMUF (p = .02). There was also significantly decreased incidence of severe postoperative bleeding (>10 mL/kg) in the first CVICU hour for protocol plus MUF patients (p < .01). Implementation of a multidisciplinary bleeding and transfusion protocol significantly decreases perioperative blood product transfusion and improves some bleeding outcomes.