[Ultrastructural changes in erythrocytes following implantation of an artificial heart].

Calf red blood cells were subjected to light and electron microscopic examination during extracorporeal circulation followed by connection of the artificial heart. Destructive alterations in red blood cells augmented with the increased time of extracorporeal circulation. These alterations persisted over the first hour of artificial heart performance. By the third hour there was an increase in the number of red blood cells with normal ultrastructure.