Prevention of intravascular thrombus formation on plastic catheters with heparin-benzalkonium complex: in vivo and in vitro studies.

A complex of heparin and a quaternary ammonium compound dissolved in an organic solvent was investigated for its potential ability to prevent clotting on the surface of plastic catheters. Despite the complexing of heparin to ammonium, anticoagulant activity remained on in vitro testing. Both the heparin complex and its organic solvent alone partially prevented catheter thrombus formation when tested in an in vivo animal model system. Neither, however, was totally effective in preventing thrombosis.