Safety and Efficacy of the Use of Regional Anticoagulation With Citrate in Continuous Venovenous Hemofiltration
Status:
Completed
Trial end date:
2008-03-01
Target enrollment:
Participant gender:
Summary
Severely ill patients admitted to the intensive care unit may develop an acute failure of
kidney function. To bridge the period to recovery, renal function is temporarily replaced by
continuous venovenous hemofiltration (CVVH). To prevent clotting of the hemofiltration
circuit, heparin is generally used, providing anticoagulation in the circuit and the patient.
As a result, bleeding complications may occur, necessitating the transfusion of blood.
Anticoagulation of the circuit can also be obtained with the use of tri-sodium citrate, which
provides anticoagulation of the circuit without affecting coagulation in the patient and thus
without increasing his/her risk of bleeding. The use of citrate may however cause metabolic
complications.
Primary aim of the present study is to show in a larger group of intensive care patients
whether the use of regional anticoagulation with citrate is safe compared to systemic
anticoagulation with the low molecular weight heparin nadroparin.