Thirty patients were randomly divided into two groups: with either a heparin-coated circuit or an identical but non-coated circuit control group. In the heparin-coated group, all the blood contacting surfaces were treated with immobilized heparin (Duraflo II).
Early postoperative pulmonary function is determined with measurements of static lung compliance, pulmonary vascular resistance and arterial blood gases. Static lung compliance was significantly better in the heparin coated (HC) group in early postoperative period (p=0.001). Pulmonary vasculary resistance was significantly lower in the heparin-coated (HC) group in early postoperative period (p=0.001).
We believe that the method of heparin binding may play a role in its diminished effect on complement activation, but the general augmentation of the circuits biocompatibility may explain its benefical effect on pulmonary vascular resistance and static lung compliance.