Baboon veno-arterial cardiopulmonary bypass without anticoagulants

Four hr veno-arterial cardiopulmonary bypass via a median sternotomy utilizing a membrane oxygenator was done in 15 baboons. A comparison of perfusion with and without anticoagulants was made. From this study systemic heparin had no advantage over no anticoagulants. These findings, in a clinically-relevant primate model, suggest that the scientific basis for the use of systemic heparin in membrane oxygenation is unclear.