Effects of Blood Pulsatility on Von Willebrand Factor During ECCO2R

A track of major interest to prevent bleeding complications in ECCO2R, and more generally in extracorporeal circulations, is to prevent acquired Willebrand disease. Indeed, a loss of Willebrand factor high molecular weight multimers (Whmwm) is frequently observed in conditions characterized by a continuous blood flow, associated with a high incidence of bleeding. A publication suggested the existence of this phenomenon under ECCO2R achieved through the medical device Hemolung (Alung technology, USA). We preliminary observed an almost constant and early (\< 24 hours) decrease in Willebrand factor high molecular weight multimers under ECCO2R. Such a phenomenon is considered as a major factor of hemorrhagic complications. We hypothesize that use of pulsatile extracorporeal blood flow configuration during the full length of ECCO2R therapy, as authorized by the Xenios console (Xenios AG, Heilbronn), would preserve a normal value of Whmwm, mainly by changing the conditions of shear constraints ("shear stress").