Bleeding, thrombosis and transfusion in patients on ECMO: A retrospective study in a tertiary center in Hong Kong

Use of anticoagulation in patients on ECMO, especially in Chinese, has always been difficult. This study aimed to review the incidence of bleeding, thrombosis, and transfusion requirement in Chinese ECMO patients and to identify risk factors for bleeding complications.

This was a retrospective observational study of a tertiary hospital from 2010 to 2018. Patients aged ⩾18 years who received ECMO were included. The primary outcome was incidence of bleeding. Secondary outcomes included ICU mortality, hospital mortality, and length of the ICU and hospital stay.

Of the 130 patients, 55(42.3%) had at least one bleeding events and thrombosis occurred in 37(28.5%). A lower fibrinogen level (adjusted OR 0.56 (0.36-0.86), p = 0.009), bloodstream infection (adjusted OR 2.76 (1.01-7.53), p = 0.047) and longer duration on ECMO (adjusted OR 1.14 (1.02-1.27), p = 0.018) were independently associated with occurrence of bleeding. APTT (adjusted OR 0.99 (0.97-1.01), p = 0.370) and platelet count (adjusted OR 1.00 (0.98-1.01), p = 0.632) were not statistically significant risk factors for bleeding events.

Bleeding and thrombosis were common complications in Chinese patients receiving ECMO. Hypofibrinogenemia and bloodstream infection, but not APTT nor platelet counts, were independent risk factors for bleeding events.