Argatroban as Anticoagulant in Cardiopulmonary Bypass in an Infant and Attempted Reversal with Recombinant Activated Factor VII

Abstract

HEPARIN-INDUCED thrombocytopenia (HIT) is an infrequent complication of heparin therapy. 1 A unique problem arises in patients with HIT who need anticoagulation, especially if urgent cardiac surgery is planned. We report a case of HIT in an infant in which Argatroban (GlaxoSmithKline, Middlesex, UK) was used as anticoagulant during cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB) and the unsuccessful use of recombinant activated factor VII (rF-VIIa) to reverse the anticoagulant effects postoperatively.