24 July 2025

Dr. Teryn Roberts Explores Safer Blood Clot Prevention in Extracorporeal Life Support

Geneva-supported research tests nitric oxide approach to reduce systemic anticoagulation risks

Rethinking Clot Prevention in Life-Saving Devices

Systemic anticoagulation is a necessary, yet risky, component of extracorporeal life support (ECLS), where blood is circulated through external machines to support organ function. In trauma patients or those with bleeding risk, the need for anticoagulation presents a significant barrier.

Geneva researcher Dr. Teryn Roberts, a Geneva Principal Investigator for the Autonomous Reanimation and Evacuation (AREVA) Research Institute & Research Center, co-led a new study titled “Anticoagulate the Circuit, Not the Patient: Nitric Oxide Reduces Thrombus Formation During Extracorporeal Carbon Dioxide Removal” investigating whether nitric oxide (NO), known for its anti-clotting properties, could be used within the extracorporeal circuit, not in the patient’s bloodstream, to reduce clotting during extracorporeal carbon dioxide removal (ECCO₂R).

A Safer, More Targeted Approach

In a 72-hour swine model, the research team compared two groups: one receiving standard ECCO₂R with systemic heparin, and one using nitric oxide–enhanced circuitry without systemic anticoagulation.

Results were promising:

 

• Thrombus formation in the oxygenator was significantly reduced in the nitric oxide group.
• Systemic blood chemistry, gas exchange, and vital signs remained stable across groups.
• No NO-related adverse effects (e.g., methemoglobinemia) were observed.

 

This approach could significantly expand the safety and utility of extracorporeal support in patients where anticoagulation poses unacceptable risk.

Enabling Safer Innovation in Military Medicine

Geneva’s operational and scientific support helped advance this novel solution from a translational model to a peer-reviewed publication. This work aligns with Geneva’s mission to support innovations that improve critical care and survivability in complex military medical environments.

To learn more about Geneva’s work in trauma, critical care, and device-focused research, visit our combat casualty care research page on our website.