The puzzle of blood platelets in extracorporeal circulation. Comments based on recirculation experiments

Oozing of blood from wound tissues after some time of total body perfusion and the demonstration of microemboli have brought into focus the inevitable disappearance of platelets from the blood during extracorporeal circulation. Recirculation experiments using dog blood are reported. The effect of a bubble oxygenator and a membrane oxygenator is compared. It is concluded that in principle they both contribute to the removal of functionally active platelets.