This study was undertaken in an attempt to diminish the frequency and severity of postextracorporeal circulation hemorrhage in dogs. Its purpose is to ascertain the amount of 99mTc-labeled autologous fibrinogen deposited in the oxygenator, as well as the coagulation defect originated during the surgical procedure when heparin is not administered (group I) and when it is at doses of 1 mg/kg body weight (group II) and 3 mg/kg body weight (group III). The result demonstrate that the fibrinogen deposition in the oxygenator decreased as the dose of heparin administered was augmented. The coagulation disorders were produced by factor consumption, affecting all dogs in group I. The same type of alteration was produced with the use of heparin, but in some the platelet count, fibrinogen and fibrinogen degradation products and the prothrombin and thrombin times were maintained within normality or were only slightly altered. Significant differences were not detected between groups II and III. For this reason, we recommend the utilization of heparin in experimental extracorporeal circulation in a single dose of 1 mg/kg body weight, administered at the initiation of bypass, which provides a sufficient level of anticoagulation for at least 60 min and makes its neutralization with protamine unnecessary, the effects of which are especially adverse in the dog.