title: Clinical application of argatroban as an alternative anticoagulant for extracorporeal circulation.
abstract: The authors attempted experimental and clinical use of argatroban as an alternative anticoagulant in left heart bypass with the centrifugal pump, percutaneous cardiopulmonary support (PCPS), and extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) to determine if it has complementary effects in preventing thrombus formation without aggravating bleeding tendency. Its reversible binding to thrombin and its short half-life contributed to reduce the risk of excessive blood loss without clot formation within the extracorporeal circulation circuit during thoracic aortic surgery using left heart bypass. PCPS and ECMO were safely performed at doses ranging from 0.5 to 10 micrograms/kg/min to maintain activated clotting time at approximately 200 seconds. Although experimental studies showed argatroban to be advantageous in preserving platelet and fibrinogen, further clinical investigations are necessary.
authors.affiliation: First Department of Surgery, Showa University School of Medicine, Japan.
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Kawada
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Kitagawa
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Hoson
authors.forename: Y
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Okada
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Shiomura
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000925:Anticoagulants / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001120:Arginine / Q000031:analogs & derivatives; D002648:Child; D005112:Extracorporeal Circulation; D018611:Heart Bypass, Left; D006493:Heparin / Q000627:therapeutic use; D006801:Humans; D010372:Pediatrics; D010875:Pipecolic Acids / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D013449:Sulfonamides; D013923:Thromboembolism / Q000517:prevention & control
chemical_list: D000925:Anticoagulants; D010875:Pipecolic Acids; D013449:Sulfonamides; D006493:Heparin; D001120:Arginine; C031942:argatroban