Hemodialysis without Anticoagulants in Patients with High Bleeding Risk

Abstract

Twenty hemodialysis were performed in six uremic patients with high bleeding risk, with a technique avoiding any anticoagulant drug before or during the treatment. The treatment was well tolerated in all patients and no alterations were observed in the intrinsic clotting system evaluated before, during and after hemodialysis. During the study, devices were never lost because of clotting or rupture, and their performances were similar to those obtained on heparin hemodialysis. We suggest that in critically ill patients, needing dialysis, hemodialysis without heparin is possible and safe.