Bivalirudin vs Heparin in ECMO Patients

This open label randomized study will compare the clinical outcomes of patients on ECMO who are anticoagulated with Heparin and Bivalirudin. Patients will be anticoagulated with a heparin bolus at the commencement of ECMO per standard of care, as there will be insufficient time to randomize these frequently emergent patients. Consent for the study will be obtained from a legally authorized representative Prior to starting a continuous infusion of maintenance anticoagulation, patients will be randomized to bivalirudin or heparin. Outcome measures are bleeding, thrombosis, development of Heparin Induced thrombocytopenia, number of cross‐overs between the two research arms, circuit failures, decannulation, deaths and discharges from hospital.