Regional versus systemic heparinization.

In 12 mongrel dogs, the comparative effectiveness of systemic versus regional heparinization was studied after injecting 100 units per kilogram of heparin into a systemic vein or regionally into an artery. Activated plasma thromboplastin time was used to monitor the heparin activity, and the coagulability of blood in the general circulation was compared with the coagulability of blood in the excluded circulation distal to the vascular clamps. Both methods of heparinization were found to be equally effective. Heparin injected regionally rapidly achieves a uniform distribution in the excluded, as well as the general, circulation and, as such, cannot be called regional. There was no difference in coagulability of blood in the general circulation compared with the blood in the excluded circulation. Results of this study suggest that regional heparinization is, in fact, systemic heparinization.