Decreased incidence of arterial thrombosis using heparin-bonded intraaortic balloons.
BACKGROUND
This experimental study sought to determine whether heparin-bonding of intraaortic balloons (IAB) would decrease the incidence of arterial thrombosis in the absence of systemic heparinization.


METHODS
In 25 adult pigs, a 9F, 40-mL IAB was inserted into the femoral artery and positioned just below the takeoff of the left subclavian artery for 9 hours. Five animals received systemic heparin, 10 animals had no heparin, and another 10 animals received no heparin but the IAB was heparin-bonded (Duraflo II). Thrombus formation was assessed using a numerical scoring system (0 = no thrombosis to 3 = thrombus >5 cm or evidence of luminal compromise).


RESULTS
Animals receiving heparin and heparin-bonded IAB had no thrombus formation around the IAB (mean +/- SE; 0 +/- 0.00 heparin versus 1.55 +/- 0.29 no heparin versus 0 +/- 0.00 heparin-bonded; p < 0.005), at the insertion site (0 +/- 0.00 heparin versus 1.55 +/- 0.29 no heparin versus 0 +/- 0.0 heparin-bonded; p < 0.005), and in the distal femoral artery (0 +/- 0.00 heparin versus 2.00 +/- 0.23 no heparin versus 0 +/- 0.00 heparin-bonded; p < 0.005).


CONCLUSIONS
Heparin-bonding of the IAB significantly decreases thrombus formation in the absence of systemic heparinization.
Lazar
H L
HL
Department of Cardiothoracic Surgery, The Boston Medical Center and Boston University School of Medicine, Massachusetts 02118, USA.
Bao
Y
Y
Rivers
S
S
Treanor
P R
PR
Shemin
R J
RJ
D000818:Animals; D020099:Coated Materials, Biocompatible; D004867:Equipment Design; D006493:Heparin / Q000008:administration & dosage; D007423:Intra-Aortic Balloon Pumping / Q000295:instrumentation*; D013552:Swine; D013927:Thrombosis / Q000097:blood / Q000517:prevention & control*; D014914:Whole Blood Coagulation Time
D020099:Coated Materials, Biocompatible; D006493:Heparin