Clinical trial Recruiting at 1 site Interventional Ages 18 and up

Nafamostat mesilate versus heparin for anticoagulation in ECMO after cardiac surgery

Official title: Use of Nafamostat Mesilate for Anticoagulation in Patients With Extracorporeal Membrane Oxygenation After Cardiac Surgery: Efficacy and Safety

Run by Beijing Anzhen Hospital · NCT06276010 · Data updated 2026-11-12

This study will test whether nafamostat mesilate works better than unfractionated heparin for anticoagulation in adults on ECMO after cardiac surgery.

More Extracorporeal Membrane Oxygenation Complication trials

Quick facts

Study typeInterventional
Ages18 Years and up
SexAll
Enrollment80 (estimated)
SponsorBeijing Anzhen Hospital
Academic / other
Locations1 site (Beijing, Beijing Municipality)
StatusRecruiting
StartedJuly 1, 2024
Main results expectedNovember 1, 2026
Study endsDecember 31, 2026
Registry record updatedSeptember 25, 2025
Trial IDNCT06276010 on ClinicalTrials.gov

Is this trial a fit for you?

Likely a good fit

Adults aged 18 or older who receive VA- or VV-ECMO after cardiac surgery, require systemic anticoagulation, and can sign informed consent are the intended participants.

Probably not a fit

Patients with active bleeding from other causes, prior long-term anticoagulant or antiplatelet use before ECMO, severe liver insufficiency, connective tissue disease, known allergy to heparin or nafamostat, prior heparin-induced thrombocytopenia, pregnancy, expected death within 48 hours, or those receiving ECPR are excluded and unlikely to benefit from this protocol.

A plain-English reading of the study's rules. Only the study team can confirm whether you qualify.

What this trial studies

Adults requiring systemic anticoagulation while on VA- or VV-ECMO after cardiac surgery will be randomly assigned to receive either nafamostat mesilate or standard unfractionated heparin. The trial compares incidence of bleeding and thrombosis while keeping anticoagulation within target levels during ECMO support. Safety outcomes and complication rates will be recorded and compared between the two groups. The design aims to determine if nafamostat provides similar or improved anticoagulation with fewer bleeding events.

Why it matters

Potential benefit: If successful, nafamostat could reduce bleeding and thrombotic complications during ECMO and improve patient outcomes compared with standard heparin.

How similar studies have gone: Small case series and observational reports, primarily from Asia, suggest nafamostat can provide anticoagulation with potentially less bleeding during extracorporeal support, but randomized evidence is currently limited.

Who can join: the full rules

Show full inclusion / exclusion criteria
Inclusion Criteria:

1. Age ≥ 18 years old
2. VA-ECMO or VV-ECMO was accepted after cardiac surgery.
3. The ECMO treatment team believes that systemic anticoagulation is needed
4. Sign the informed consent form

Exclusion Criteria:

1. The researchers believe that there are other causes of active bleeding that are not suitable to participate in this study.
2. Long-term use of anticoagulants before establishment of ECMO
3. Antiplatelet drugs were used before the establishment of ECMO
4. Severe liver insufficiency
5. Connective tissue disease
6. There is a history of allergy to heparin or nemolastat mesylate.
7. Pregnant
8. Previous diagnosis of heparin-induced thrombocytopenia
9. Expect to die within 48 hours
10. ECPR

Where it's running

  • Beijing Anzhen Hospital
    Beijing, Beijing Municipality, China
    Recruiting

Study contacts

Similar studies

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How to take part

  1. Review the eligibility criteria above with your treating physician.
  2. Check the official listing on ClinicalTrials.gov for the latest contact details and recruitment status.
  3. Contact the study coordinator or principal investigator to ask for pre-screening. Pre-screening is free and never obligates you to enroll.
Last reviewed 2026-11-14 by the Find a Trial editorial team. Information on this page is for educational purposes and is not medical advice. Always consult qualified healthcare professionals about clinical trial participation.