Pediatric heparin-induced thrombocytopenia: Management with Danaparoid (orgaran)

Heparin-induced thrombocytopenia is a rare and serious complication of anticoagulation therapy. There remains a paucity of information pertaining to alternative anticoagulation strategies for use during cardiopulmonary bypass concomitant with heparin-induced thrombocytopenia, especially in children. We report the successful treatment of heparin-induced thrombocytopenia and subsequent hemorrhagic complications postoperatively in a 2-year-old child with Danaparoid (orgaran). Emergent conduit revision with cardiopulmonary bypass was required for a thrombosed systemic-venous to pulmonary-arterial connection (completion modified Fontan procedure). Required doses of Danaparoid were consistently two-fold that previously reported for adults. (Ann Thorac Surg 1999;68:1076-8) (C) 1999 by The Society of Thoracic Surgeons.