Improving Cardiopulmonary Bypass: Heparin-Coated Circuits

Division of Cardiothoracic Surgery, Department of Surgery, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington 98195-3166

^* Address correspondence to: Craig Vocelka, CCP, Division of Cardiothoracic Surgery, Department of Surgery, University of Washington, Box 356310, 1959 NE Pacific Street, Seattle, WA 98195-3166.

Received: 12 December 2002
Accepted: 15 June 2003

Abstract

Heparin-coated circuits have been repeatedly proven to reduce the inflammatory response and foreign surface activation triggered upon initiation of cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB). In recent years, increasing numbers of studies are proving significant reductions in postoperative blood loss and transfusion requirements and improvements in clinical outcomes as a result of heparin-coated circuits. These results are promising steps in our efforts to improve CPB, as our patient population gets older and more complicated.