Veno-venous bypass without systemic heparinization using a centrifugal pump: a blind comparison of a heparin bonded circuit versus a non heparin bonded circuit

Veno-venous bypass without the use of systemic heparinization has recently become of increasing interest for application during liver transplantation and surgery on the large abdominal veins. However, possible adverse effects on blood components as demonstrated by means of hematologic and hemostatic parameters or on the occurrence of thromboembolic complications are until now not excluded. No consensus has been reached as to the efficacy of heparin coated circuits in those procedures. In the present study veno-venous bypass was performed for four hours in ten dogs using heparin coated and non coated circuits without further heparinization in a randomized blind fashion. No changes or significant intergroup differences were noted in the hematological and coagulation parameters. Macroscopic evaluation of the circuits revealed small strands of fibrin on all connector rims and clots in the center part of the pump head and at the cannula tips. The lungs showed two small emboli in large size pulmonary arteries and also two minor emboli in small size arteries. In four animals the emboli were equally divided between the two groups. As expected regarding the size of the clots no influences could be seen on hemodynamic or respiratory parameters. With Scanning Electronic Microscopy a monolayer of activated thrombocytes was observed on the surface of the bypass circuits in the coated as well as in the uncoated group. This study suggests that a veno-venous bypass without systemic heparinization is possible without serious damage to blood cellular elements or impressive activation of the coagulation system.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)