Purpose: To study the incidence and severity of bleeding in high risk critically ill patients during high volume, citrate based continuous veno-venous hemofiltration (CVVH).
Design: A prospective 1-year observational cohort study comparing citrate based CVVH with nadroparin based CVVH.
Procedures: Critically ill patients with multiple organ dysfunction and in need of CVVH were observed for bleeding complications during their CVVH sessions. Pre-defined criteria determined that patients were treated with citrate based CVVH in case of active bleeding or increased risk for bleeding. Otherwise nadroparin was used as anticoagulant. Statistical and outcome methods: The incidence of bleeding complications, the number of transfused blood cell concentrates and the filter-run-time were recorded. Analyses were made by non-parametric tests.
Main findings: Fifty-five patients received 272 CVVH sessions. In the citrate group 14.8% experienced a bleeding complication compared to 25% in the nadroparin group (p=0.04). The number of transfused red blood cell concentrates was not different between groups. The nadroparin group had a longer filter run time (median 31.5 hours versus 22.5 hours, p=0.0001).
Conclusions: In high risk critically ill patients citrate based anticoagulation for CVVH is safe in terms of bleeding complications and transfusion requirements.