Changes in Blood After Using an Extracorporeal Circulation

Neuropathological Findings in Patients Dying after Open-heart Surgery

“…The changes taking place in the blood as a result of its passage through the pump-oxygenator or of hypothermia cannot be considered in full, but the thrombocytopenia reported by Sharp, Excell, Salzman, and Torup (1961) and by Bloom (1961) is important in relation to the subdural, subarachnoid, intracerebral, and perivascular haemorrhages noted in the present series and also to the platelet and leucocyte thrombi seen in the cerebral vessels of case 9 of Bjork and Hultquist. It was this brain that presented lesions of geographical type.…”

The Release of Thrombin from Fibrin by Fibrinolysin

“…Since fibrin clots produced from partially pure fibrinogen are friable and do not retract readily, it was found to be technically easier to use clots produced from a euglobulin solution. Such a solution was prepared by acidification of oxalated plasma by a method previously described (Bloom, 1961). The solution was citrated with one-fifth volumc of 3.8 per cent wjv trisodium citrate as soon as it was made to prevent spontaneous generation of thrombin.…”

Some Haematological Observations in Cardiopulmonary Bypass at Normothermia Using the Melrose Oxygenator

“…Reports on changes in the coagulation mechanism after the use of an extracorporeal circulation are numerous and variable, a reduction in platelets being the commonest change recorded (Bloom, 1961). Fibrinogenopenia and excessive fibrinolysis, although frequently described, have not been inevitable (Osborn, MacKenzie, Shaw, Perkins, Hurt, and Gerbode, 1956).…”

“…Fibrinogenopenia and excessive fibrinolysis, although frequently described, have not been inevitable (Osborn, MacKenzie, Shaw, Perkins, Hurt, and Gerbode, 1956). Depression in blood factor VIII levels (Hoeksema, Mustard, and Mustard, 1959;Smith, Brown, Young, and Sealy, 1959) has not been constant (Bloom, 1961;Matzke, Jensen, and Rygg, 1961), although Perkins, Harkins, Gerbode, Rolfs, and Acra (1961) demonstrated a striking decrease in factor VIII experimentally after the administration of hexadimethrine bromide in large doses to dogs. Many of the haematological variations seemed to be dependent on techniques employed during the procedure.…”