Anticoagulation strategy with bivalirudin plus aspirin combination during extracorporeal membrane oxygenation for COVID-19-associated acute respiratory distress syndrome.

Background: In this study, we present our experience in treating patients receiving extracorporeal membrane oxygenation for novel coronavirus disease-2019 (COVID-19)-associated acute respiratory distress syndrome using a combined anticoagulant and antiaggregant treatment with intravenous infusion of bivalirudin and aspirin. Methods: Between April 1 Results: The mean bivalirudin dose per day ranged from 0.03 to 0.04 mg/kg/h, with a mean overall dose of 0.036 mg/kg/h. The mean activated partial thromboplastin time was 49.1±6.9 sec throughout 10 days of the application. The percentage of time in the target range for activated partial thromboplastin time was 58.9±20.1% within 10 days of application, compared to 33.1±31.1% for the first 24 h. The mean daily activated clotting time was below the target range within the first three days, but it was consistently within the target range after Day 3. During the first 10 days of the application, no mortality occurred. Major bleeding occurred in 11 patients (21.1%) and circuit thrombosis occurred in three patients (5.8%). Conclusion: In patients receiving extracorporeal membrane oxygenation for COVID-19-associated acute respiratory distress syndrome, an hourly bivalirudin dose of 0.03 to 0.04 mg/kg/h throughout the first 10 days of application was associated with the targeted anticoagulation profile of 45 to 60 sec. The combination was associated with a comparable rate of major bleeding, but a lower rate of circuit-thrombosis compared to the literature reports.