title: In vivo assessment of hemocompatibility of a ventricular assist device in healthy swine.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To assess the hemocompatible performance of a novel implantable pneumatic ventricular assist device (VAD, Innovamédica, México) in healthy swine. The aim of this pilot study was first, to determine if short-term VAD implantation elicited remarkable inflammatory response above that expected from surgical trauma; and second, to assess if heparinized or passivated VAD coatings, in combination with systemic anticoagulant or antiaggregant therapies, modified the VAD's hemocompatible performance.
  
  
  METHODS
  Hemodynamic, physicologic, inflammatory and histological parameters were measured in 27 pigs receiving VAD support for six hours, testing combinations of heparinized or passivated VAD coatings and systemic anticoagulant/ antiaggregant therapies. Mean concentrations of interleukin -1 B (IL-1B), interleukin -6 (IL-6), C-reactive protein (CRP), or thrombin-antithrombin III (TAT) complexes (coagulation indicator) were measured from blood. ANOVA statistics were employed.
  
  
  RESULTS
  No substantial increases in mean IL -1B, IL-6, CRP, or TAT were obtained during VAD support. Hemodynamic ans physiologic parameters were normal. We found no evidence of thromboembolisms or micro-infarctions in heart and lung samples. No major coaguli/deposits were found in VAD compartments. Overall, no remarkable differences in measurements were found using heparinized, passivated, or uncoated VAD, or with systemic anticoagulation, antiaggregant therapy, or no treatment.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Our findings demonstrate, firstly, that during the time-period tested, the VAD elicited negligible inflammation above the effects of surgical trauma; and secondly, that little coagulation was observed upon VAD support in any of the cases tested. Contemplating further validation studies, our data indicate that the Innovamédica VAD is a highly hemocompatible system.
authors.affiliation: Innovamédica SAPI de CV, México City, México.
authors.forename: Catarina
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Sacristán
authors.forename: Carlos R
authors.initials: CR
authors.lastname: Escobedo
authors.forename: Rafael
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Bojalil
authors.forename: Raúl A
authors.initials: RA
authors.lastname: Izaguirre
authors.forename: Evelyn
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Cortina
authors.forename: Alberto
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Aranda
authors.forename: Jorge
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Catrip
authors.forename: Ma Del Carmen
authors.initials: Mdel C
authors.lastname: Lesprón
authors.forename: Rashidi
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Springall
authors.forename: Emilio
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Sacristán
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001777:Blood Coagulation; D005260:Female; D006353:Heart-Assist Devices / Q000009:adverse effects; D006439:Hemodynamics; D007249:Inflammation / Q000097:blood / Q000209:etiology; D008297:Male; D008422:Materials Testing; D010865:Pilot Projects; D011183:Postoperative Complications / Q000097:blood / Q000209:etiology / Q000503:physiopathology; D013552:Swine