Controlled preclotting--a simplified technique proved by time

Precise preclotting techniques are necessary to ensure that knitted Dacron (DuPont, Inc., Wilmington, DE) grafts are impervious and hypothrombogenic. In situ and submersion preclotting techniques are insufficient because they result in a highly thrombogenic flow surface and may not produce an impervious wall, a bad combination at best and a disastrous one at worst. The authors have used a controllable preclotting method for more than 10 years that assures that the wall will be impervious and the flow surface hypothrombogenic. We believe that the 100-200 ml of the patient's blood and approximately 15 min of the surgeon's time required to achieve this result are prudent investments for both.