Citrate Anticoagulation Protocols Displace Heparin as Clinical Standard
Regional citrate anticoagulation, once considered technically demanding for ICU nursing staff, has become the preferred protocol at most academic medical centers because it extends filter circuit life meaningfully compared with heparin and carries a substantially lower systemic bleeding risk for critically ill patients prone to coagulation complications. Updated Society of Critical Care Medicine guidance during 2025 now recommends citrate as first-line anticoagulation for most CRRT patients absent specific contraindications, accelerating protocol conversion at hospitals that had been slow to retrain nursing staff on citrate dosing calculations, a shift consumable suppliers are actively supporting through simplified formulation kits.
Market Impact: Affects 20-25% of all ICU admission








