Study Results
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View full resultsBasic Information
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COMPLETED
NA
26 participants
INTERVENTIONAL
2022-05-12
2024-01-10
Brief Summary
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Fixed Low-dose Heparin Versus Standard Adjusted-dose Heparin Infusion in Adults Receiving Venovenous ECMO With a Heparin Bonded Circuit.
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Detailed Description
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Critical illness, in general, is associated with both coagulopathy and impaired hemostasis. These problems are compounded during ECMO by the artificial interface between blood and the non-biologic surface of the circuit components, which leads to activation of the coagulation system, consumptive thrombocytopenia, fibrinolysis, and thrombin generation. The sheer stress on blood components during ECMO also lead to destruction of high-molecular-weight von Willebrand multimers, interrupting primary hemostasis.
Both bleeding and thromboembolism are common complications during ECMO. Bleeding events have been associated with poor clinical outcomes, likely mediated by an increased incidence of intracranial hemorrhage during ECMO. During intra-operative cardiopulmonary bypass and venoarterial (V-A) ECMO, ischemic strokes are a common and potentially deadly complication. During V-V ECMO, however, the majority of thromboembolic events are cannula-associated DVT and circuit thromboses requiring exchange, which are of unclear clinical significance.
Various anticoagulation strategies have been proposed to balance the risks of bleeding and thromboembolism during V-V ECMO, including high intensity anticoagulation, moderate intensity anticoagulation, and low intensity anticoagulation (the equivalent of DVT prophylaxis). Observational studies have suggested that, compared to moderate intensity anticoagulation, low intensity anticoagulation reduces transfusion requirements without affecting the incidence of thrombosis, hemorrhage, or death. In one case series of 60 patients who were treated with only low-intensity subcutaneous heparin during V-V ECMO, rates of transfusions were lower than historical controls without any effect on the rate of thrombotic events. Similarly, a recent systematic review suggested that the rates of thromboembolism and circuit thrombosis among patients managed with a moderate intensity anticoagulation strategy during V-V ECMO were comparable to the rates reported among patients managed with a less intense anticoagulation strategy.
To date, there are no randomized controlled trials comparing low intensity to moderate intensity anticoagulation during V-V ECMO. Guidelines from the Extracorporeal Life Support Organization (ELSO), the pre-eminent group for ECMO education and research, provide little guidance for the selection of anticoagulation strategy, and anticoagulation practices are highly variable across institutions. A large, multicenter, randomized trial is needed to determine the ideal strategy to anticoagulation during V-V ECMO. Before such a trial can be conducted, however, additional data are needed on the feasibility of randomizing patients to a specific anticoagulation strategy and study measurements.
To facilitate a large, multicenter randomized controlled trial comparing low intensity anticoagulation to moderate intensity anticoagulation during V-V ECMO, a pilot trial is needed to establish feasibility and the performance of the primary outcome measures.
Primary aim of the study: To demonstrate feasibility of a future large, multi-center randomized controlled trial comparing low intensity to moderate intensity anticoagulation among adults receiving V-V ECMO by demonstrating the ability to recruit and randomize participants, adhere to assigned anticoagulation strategy, and demonstrate adequate separation between groups in therapy delivered and intensity of anticoagulation achieved with the assigned anticoagulation strategies.
Secondary aim of the study: To define and estimate the frequency of the primary efficacy, primary safety, and secondary outcomes of a future large, multi-center randomized controlled trial comparing low intensity vs moderate intensity anticoagulation among adults receiving V-V ECMO.
Conditions
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Study Design
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RANDOMIZED
PARALLEL
TREATMENT
NONE
Study Groups
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Low Intensity Anticoagulation
For patients assigned to the low intensity anticoagulation strategy, clinical teams will be instructed to initiate low intensity anticoagulation at doses and frequencies commonly used for deep vein thrombosis (DVT) prophylaxis. The choice of anticoagulant, dose, and frequency of administration will be deferred to treating clinicians.
Low intensity anticoagulation
Participants assigned to the low intensity anticoagulation strategy will receive anticoagulation at doses used for DVT prophylaxis in critically ill patients. The choice of agent (e.g. heparin or enoxaparin) and specific dosing will be at the discretion of the treating clinicians and will be prospectively recorded.
Moderate Intensity Anticoagulation
For patients assigned to the moderate intensity anticoagulation group, clinical teams will be instructed to initiate a continuous infusion of moderate intensity anticoagulation targeting either a partial thromboplastin time (PTT) of 40-60 seconds or an Anti-Xa level of 0.2 to 0.3 IU/mL. The choice of anticoagulant and approach to dosing will be deferred to treating clinicians.
Moderate Intensity Anticoagulation
Patients assigned to the moderate intensity anticoagulation strategy will receive anticoagulation targeting a PTT goal of 40-60 seconds or anti-Xa level of 0.2 to 0.3 IU/mL. Choice of anticoagulant and monitoring strategy (PTT or anti-Xa level) will be at the discretion of the treating clinicians and will be prospectively recorded. Anticoagulant drips will be titrated according to institutional protocols. For patients who survive to decannulation, the infusion will be stopped one hour prior to decannulation.
This approach to anticoagulation reflects the current approach for patients receiving V-V ECMO at Vanderbilt University Medical Center and is similar to protocols widely adopted for patients receiving V-V ECMO at other centers.
Interventions
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Low intensity anticoagulation
Participants assigned to the low intensity anticoagulation strategy will receive anticoagulation at doses used for DVT prophylaxis in critically ill patients. The choice of agent (e.g. heparin or enoxaparin) and specific dosing will be at the discretion of the treating clinicians and will be prospectively recorded.
Moderate Intensity Anticoagulation
Patients assigned to the moderate intensity anticoagulation strategy will receive anticoagulation targeting a PTT goal of 40-60 seconds or anti-Xa level of 0.2 to 0.3 IU/mL. Choice of anticoagulant and monitoring strategy (PTT or anti-Xa level) will be at the discretion of the treating clinicians and will be prospectively recorded. Anticoagulant drips will be titrated according to institutional protocols. For patients who survive to decannulation, the infusion will be stopped one hour prior to decannulation.
This approach to anticoagulation reflects the current approach for patients receiving V-V ECMO at Vanderbilt University Medical Center and is similar to protocols widely adopted for patients receiving V-V ECMO at other centers.
Eligibility Criteria
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Inclusion Criteria
2. Patient is located in a participating unit of the Vanderbilt University Medical Center (VUMC) adult hospital.
Exclusion Criteria
2. Patient is a prisoner
3. Patient is \< 18 years old
4. Patient underwent ECMO cannulation greater than 24 hours prior to screening
5. Presence of an indication for systemic anticoagulation:
1. Ongoing receipt of systemic anticoagulation
2. Planned administration of anticoagulation for an indication other than ECMO
3. Presence of or plan to insert an arterial ECMO cannula
6. Presence of a contraindication to anticoagulation:
1. Active bleeding determined by treating clinicians to make anticoagulation unsafe
2. Major surgery or trauma less than 72 hours prior to randomization
3. Known history of a bleeding diathesis
4. Ongoing severe thrombocytopenia (platelet count \< 30,000)
5. History of heparin-induced thrombocytopenia (HIT)
6. Heparin allergy
7. Positive SARS-CoV-2 test within prior 21 days or high clinical suspicion for COVID-19
8. The treating clinician determines that the patient's risks of thromboembolism or bleeding necessitate a specific approach to anticoagulation management during V-V ECMO
18 Years
ALL
No
Sponsors
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Vanderbilt University Medical Center
OTHER
Responsible Party
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Whitney Gannon
Acute Care Nurse Practitioner
Principal Investigators
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Jonathan D Casey, MD, MSc
Role: STUDY_DIRECTOR
Vanderbilt University Medical Center
Locations
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Vanderbilt University Medical Center
Nashville, Tennessee, United States
Countries
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References
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Schulman S, Kearon C; Subcommittee on Control of Anticoagulation of the Scientific and Standardization Committee of the International Society on Thrombosis and Haemostasis. Definition of major bleeding in clinical investigations of antihemostatic medicinal products in non-surgical patients. J Thromb Haemost. 2005 Apr;3(4):692-4. doi: 10.1111/j.1538-7836.2005.01204.x.
Aubron C, DePuydt J, Belon F, Bailey M, Schmidt M, Sheldrake J, Murphy D, Scheinkestel C, Cooper DJ, Capellier G, Pellegrino V, Pilcher D, McQuilten Z. Predictive factors of bleeding events in adults undergoing extracorporeal membrane oxygenation. Ann Intensive Care. 2016 Dec;6(1):97. doi: 10.1186/s13613-016-0196-7. Epub 2016 Oct 6.
Aubron C, Cheng AC, Pilcher D, Leong T, Magrin G, Cooper DJ, Scheinkestel C, Pellegrino V. Factors associated with outcomes of patients on extracorporeal membrane oxygenation support: a 5-year cohort study. Crit Care. 2013 Apr 18;17(2):R73. doi: 10.1186/cc12681.
Zangrillo A, Landoni G, Biondi-Zoccai G, Greco M, Greco T, Frati G, Patroniti N, Antonelli M, Pesenti A, Pappalardo F. A meta-analysis of complications and mortality of extracorporeal membrane oxygenation. Crit Care Resusc. 2013 Sep;15(3):172-8.
Combes A, Leprince P, Luyt CE, Bonnet N, Trouillet JL, Leger P, Pavie A, Chastre J. Outcomes and long-term quality-of-life of patients supported by extracorporeal membrane oxygenation for refractory cardiogenic shock. Crit Care Med. 2008 May;36(5):1404-11. doi: 10.1097/CCM.0b013e31816f7cf7.
Munshi L, Walkey A, Goligher E, Pham T, Uleryk EM, Fan E. Venovenous extracorporeal membrane oxygenation for acute respiratory distress syndrome: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Lancet Respir Med. 2019 Feb;7(2):163-172. doi: 10.1016/S2213-2600(18)30452-1. Epub 2019 Jan 11.
Murphy DA, Hockings LE, Andrews RK, Aubron C, Gardiner EE, Pellegrino VA, Davis AK. Extracorporeal membrane oxygenation-hemostatic complications. Transfus Med Rev. 2015 Apr;29(2):90-101. doi: 10.1016/j.tmrv.2014.12.001. Epub 2014 Dec 18.
Chlebowski MM, Baltagi S, Carlson M, Levy JH, Spinella PC. Clinical controversies in anticoagulation monitoring and antithrombin supplementation for ECMO. Crit Care. 2020 Jan 20;24(1):19. doi: 10.1186/s13054-020-2726-9.
Saini A, Spinella PC. Management of anticoagulation and hemostasis for pediatric extracorporeal membrane oxygenation. Clin Lab Med. 2014 Sep;34(3):655-73. doi: 10.1016/j.cll.2014.06.014. Epub 2014 Jul 24.
Doyle AJ, Hunt BJ. Current Understanding of How Extracorporeal Membrane Oxygenators Activate Haemostasis and Other Blood Components. Front Med (Lausanne). 2018 Dec 12;5:352. doi: 10.3389/fmed.2018.00352. eCollection 2018.
Tauber H, Ott H, Streif W, Weigel G, Loacker L, Fritz J, Heinz A, Velik-Salchner C. Extracorporeal membrane oxygenation induces short-term loss of high-molecular-weight von Willebrand factor multimers. Anesth Analg. 2015 Apr;120(4):730-6. doi: 10.1213/ANE.0000000000000554.
Kasirajan V, Smedira NG, McCarthy JF, Casselman F, Boparai N, McCarthy PM. Risk factors for intracranial hemorrhage in adults on extracorporeal membrane oxygenation. Eur J Cardiothorac Surg. 1999 Apr;15(4):508-14. doi: 10.1016/s1010-7940(99)00061-5.
Menaker J, Tabatabai A, Rector R, Dolly K, Kufera J, Lee E, Kon Z, Sanchez P, Pham S, Herr DL, Mazzeffi M, Rabinowitz RP, O'Connor JV, Stein DM, Scalea TM. Incidence of Cannula-Associated Deep Vein Thrombosis After Veno-Venous Extracorporeal Membrane Oxygenation. ASAIO J. 2017 Sep/Oct;63(5):588-591. doi: 10.1097/MAT.0000000000000539.
Cooper E, Burns J, Retter A, Salt G, Camporota L, Meadows CI, Langrish CC, Wyncoll D, Glover G, Ioannou N, Daly K, Barrett NA. Prevalence of Venous Thrombosis Following Venovenous Extracorporeal Membrane Oxygenation in Patients With Severe Respiratory Failure. Crit Care Med. 2015 Dec;43(12):e581-4. doi: 10.1097/CCM.0000000000001277.
Esper SA, Welsby IJ, Subramaniam K, John Wallisch W, Levy JH, Waters JH, Triulzi DJ, Hayanga JWA, Schears GJ. Adult extracorporeal membrane oxygenation: an international survey of transfusion and anticoagulation techniques. Vox Sang. 2017 Jul;112(5):443-452. doi: 10.1111/vox.12514. Epub 2017 May 3.
Krueger K, Schmutz A, Zieger B, Kalbhenn J. Venovenous Extracorporeal Membrane Oxygenation With Prophylactic Subcutaneous Anticoagulation Only: An Observational Study in More Than 60 Patients. Artif Organs. 2017 Feb;41(2):186-192. doi: 10.1111/aor.12737. Epub 2016 Jun 3.
Carter KT, Kutcher ME, Shake JG, Panos AL, Cochran RP, Creswell LL, Copeland H. Heparin-Sparing Anticoagulation Strategies Are Viable Options for Patients on Veno-Venous ECMO. J Surg Res. 2019 Nov;243:399-409. doi: 10.1016/j.jss.2019.05.050. Epub 2019 Jul 2.
Wood KL, Ayers B, Gosev I, Kumar N, Melvin AL, Barrus B, Prasad S. Venoarterial-Extracorporeal Membrane Oxygenation Without Routine Systemic Anticoagulation Decreases Adverse Events. Ann Thorac Surg. 2020 May;109(5):1458-1466. doi: 10.1016/j.athoracsur.2019.08.040. Epub 2019 Sep 26.
Olson SR, Murphree CR, Zonies D, Meyer AD, Mccarty OJT, Deloughery TG, Shatzel JJ. Thrombosis and Bleeding in Extracorporeal Membrane Oxygenation (ECMO) Without Anticoagulation: A Systematic Review. ASAIO J. 2021 Mar 1;67(3):290-296. doi: 10.1097/MAT.0000000000001230.
ELSO. ELSO Anticoagulation Guidelines. 2014.
Bembea MM, Annich G, Rycus P, Oldenburg G, Berkowitz I, Pronovost P. Variability in anticoagulation management of patients on extracorporeal membrane oxygenation: an international survey. Pediatr Crit Care Med. 2013 Feb;14(2):e77-84. doi: 10.1097/PCC.0b013e31827127e4.
Gannon WD, Pratt EH, Vogelsong MA, Adkisson WH, Bacchetta M, Bloom SL, Ford DJ, Guenthart BA, Landsperger JS, Qian ET, Rackley CR, Rice TW, Fielding-Singh V, Stokes JW, Stollings JL, Semler MW, Casey JD; Pragmatic Critical Care Research Group. Low-Intensity vs Moderate-Intensity Anticoagulation for Venovenous Extracorporeal Membrane Oxygenation: The Strategies for Anticoagulation During Venovenous Extracorporeal Membrane Oxygenation Pilot Trial. Chest. 2025 Sep;168(3):639-649. doi: 10.1016/j.chest.2025.02.032. Epub 2025 Mar 11.
Provided Documents
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Document Type: Study Protocol and Statistical Analysis Plan
Document Type: Informed Consent Form
Other Identifiers
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202210
Identifier Type: -
Identifier Source: org_study_id
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