A heparin bonding of the extracorporeal circuit reduces clot formation during prolonged lung assist in goats

A study was carried out to investigate whether heparin bonded artificial lungs with non-microporous polyolefin hollow fiber combined with low dose systemic heparinization could reduce the thrombus formation during prolonged, veno-arterial extracorporeal lung assist (V-A ECLA) in goats. Clot formation was assessed by both microscopic and visual examination of the circuit, and the incidence of systemic complications. Finally, the resulting data was analyzed.