Thromboresistance and stability of a heparinized polymer

Untreated shunts and shunts heparinized according to a modification of the method of Eriksson et coll. were inserted between the femoral artery and vein in mongrels. Scanning electron microscopy of pieces excised at different time periods of exposure to blood was performed. The heparinized surface had excellent thromboresistant properties with no thrombus formation after 4 hours, while the untreated shunts were covered with platelets already within 20 min. The leakage of heparin in vitro was less than 3 per cent of the total wall-bonded heparin during 90 min.