USE OF BOUND HEPARIN IN PROLONGED EXTRACORPOREAL MEMBRANE OXYGENATION.

Extracorporeal circulation (ECC) is utilized in the treatment of heart disease, chronic renal failure, and for extracorporeal membrane oxygenation. These procedures use systemic anticoagulation to prevent thrombosis of the artificial organs. Surface bound heparin systems have shown some promise toward eliminating the need for systemic anticoagulation. The study reported in this paper involves the use of TDMAC/heparin bonded membrane lung and components in 5 sheep supported from 30-48 hrs on venoarterial ECC. This study measures platelet count, thromboxane B//2, fibrinogen, PT, PTT, TCT, plasma hemoglobin, and fibrin degradation products to describe the hematologic changes of ECC with no supplemental heparin.