Maintaining blood flow in the extracorporeal circuit: haemostasis and anticoagulation.
OBJECTIVE
To review the methods and developments in maintaining extracorporeal circuits in critically ill patients.


METHODS
The review includes details of the pathophysiological processes of haemostasis and coagulation in critically ill patients, methods of maintaining blood flow in the extracorporeal circuit and methods of monitoring anticoagulation agents used.


METHODS
Information is relevant to the management of critically ill patients requiring extracorporeal renal and respiratory support and cardiopulmonary bypass.


CONCLUSIONS
Heparin is the mainstay of anticoagulation for the extracorporeal circuit although the complex abnormalities of the coagulation system in critically ill patients are associated with a considerable risk of bleeding. Alternative therapeutic agents and physical strategies (prostacyclin, low molecular weight heparin, sodium citrate, regional anticoagulation, heparin bonding and attention to circuit design) may reduce the risk of bleeding but expense and difficulty in monitoring are disadvantages.
Webb
A R
AR
Bloomsbury Institute of Intensive Care Medicine, Middlesex Hospital, London, UK.
Mythen
M G
MG
Jacobson
D
D
Mackie
I J
IJ
D000925:Anticoagulants / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001777:Blood Coagulation / Q000502:physiology*; D016638:Critical Illness; D016903:Drug Monitoring; D005112:Extracorporeal Circulation / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000379:methods*; D006487:Hemostasis / Q000502:physiology*; D006489:Hemostatic Techniques; D006801:Humans
D000925:Anticoagulants