Anti-thrombotic Therapy With Cangrelor and Bivalirudin in Venoarterial Extracorporeal Membrane Oxygenation Patients Undergoing Percutaneous Coronary Intervention: A Single-Center Experience

VA-ECMO is commonly used for patients in cardiogenic shock (CS) or refractory cardiac arrest (CA) undergoing PCI for ACS. In this setting at high risk of both thrombotic and hemorrhagic complications, optimal anti-thrombotic therapy remains ill-defined. We hypothesized that an anti-thrombotic therapy comprising a parenteral anticoagulant (bivalirudin) and a parenteral anti-platelet agent (cangrelor) may prove safe and effective in this scenario. From November 2019 to December 2021, 14 patients received at least one dose of cangrelor (starting dose: 0.125 μg/kg/min) plus bivalirudin, without background aspirin, in the context of PCI and VA-ECMO for ACS-related CS/CA, and were included in this study. Efficacy endpoint was occurrence of thrombotic events and safety endpoint was major bleeding occurrence. Median age was 58 years. The majority (64%) presented with refractory CA. A thrombotic event occurred in 14%, while major bleeding occurred in 21% patients. One patient experienced arterial thrombosis after VA-ECMO arterial cannula removal, another experienced ischemic cerebellar stroke without functional sequelae. Bleeding events were: 29% BARC 3a, 14% BARC 3b, and 7% BARC 5b. Overall in-hospital mortality was 50%. Cangrelor was continued for 5 (4-10) days; temporary discontinuation was necessary in 36%, either for VA-ECMO cannula removal or for bleeding events. A low dose of cangrelor, associated with standard-intensity anticoagulation with bivalirudin was a feasible anti-thrombotic strategy in patients undergoing PCI during VA-ECMO support for ACS-related CS/CA. Bleeding events rates outweighed thrombotic events rates in this critically-ill population, although the observed rates were lowest among available studies.