Hemorrhagic complications during extracorporeal membrane oxygenation - The role of anticoagulation and platelets.

Purpose: Hemorrhagic complications during extracorporeal membrane oxygenation are frequent and have a negative impact on outcome. We studied the association between activated partial thromboplastin time or platelet count and the occurrence of hemorrhagic complications. The secondary objective was to determine risk factors for hemorrhagic complications.

Methods: Retrospective cohort study in a single-center Dutch university hospital. We included all adult patients on extracorporeal membrane oxygenation admitted to the intensive care unit between 2010 and 2017.

Results: We included 164 consecutive patients of which 73 (45%) had a hemorrhagic complication. The most prevalent hemorrhagic complications were surgical site (62%) and cannula site bleeding (18%). Survival to discharge was 67% in the patients without a hemorrhagic complication and 33% in the patients with hemorrhagic complications (p < .01). A higher activated partial thromboplastin time in the 24 h prior was associated with the occurrence of hemorrhagic complications (adjusted hazard ratio per 10 s increase 1.14; (95% CI 1.05-1.24). Venoarterial extracorporeal membrane oxygenation, duration of support, and higher activated partial thromboplastin time were risk factors for the occurrence of hemorrhagic complications.

Conclusions: Higher activated partial thromboplastin time is associated with the occurrence of hemorrhagic complications.