calcium citrate

thomstew · Sep 12, 2003

We use citrate for anticoagulation during TPE treatments (plasmapheresis). Also sometimes use it in the ICU with CRRT's and q1h labs. I asked around about citrate during hemo and apparently our unit hasn't used it for years. But I believe there is some citrate in to powdered bicarb mix, not sure on this last one. Now if the pt can't tolerate heparin we just run heparin free, frequent NS flushes.

Northern nephron · Sep 14, 2003

I would be interested in what you find out. I am from a Canadian unit and we are having anticoagulation troubles with our caths and we have alot of them. Have been doing some lit searching on the sodium citrate as well but have not been able to track down a supplier up here. Have you heard much about how well this works? Are you using it in your unit?

stillcrazy · Oct 2, 2003

We have a patient who is "allergic" to Heparin, so cannot use Heparin recirc, bolus or infusion pump on her. We tried the citrate and found absolutely no difference in terms of clotting of the extracorporeal circuit compared to our regular 2.0-2.5 bath. The only thing that worked was the constant flushing with saline during tx and I can tell you when they FINALLY put that woman on Coumadin, it was a God-send!