The Journal of extra-corporeal technology
-
J Extra Corpor Technol · Mar 2003
Comparative StudyMaintaining adequate anticoagulation on extracorporeal membrane oxygenation therapy: Hemochron Junior Low Range versus Hemochron 400.
Extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) therapy requires that patients be anticoagulated to prevent clotting and thrombotic complications. There are several bedside whole blood microcoagulation systems available to determine activated clotting time (ACT) levels. Many ECMO centers use Hemochron (International Technidyne, Edison, NJ) products to determine ACT levels. ⋯ There is a difference in the ACT values produced by Hemochron 400 and Hemochron Jr. LR. Failure to calibrate target ACT levels after changing machines may lead to shorter circuit life and more clotting complications.