Prevention of blood cell adhesion in porous inner wall of double-layered tube by saline perfusion.

A double-layered tube consisting of a porous inner tube and a solid outer tube was used to perfuse isotonic saline solution into blood to prevent blood cell adhesion. Polystyrene/poly(styrene-co-butadiene) (PS-SBR) porous tubes were made using a dipping method. Citrated canine blood was circulated for 30 min with the flow rate of 100 ml/min using an in vitro blood circulation setup which makes nonpulsatile blood flow. Blood cell adhesion in the PS/SBR porous tubes decreased with increased saline perfusion rate regardless of changes in variables such as tube porosities, tube materials, and perfusion materials. The relationship between blood cell adhesion and perfusion rate was semi-logarithmic. Blood cell adhesion was relatively high in the more porous tube (65% sugar tube), compared to the less porous tube (55% sugar tube) for an identical saline perfusion rate. The blood cell adhesion in the sulfonated PS/SBR porous tube was less than that in the nonsulfonated (control) PS/SBR porous tube. The blood cell adhesion was also decreased by citrate perfusion. The results of this study indicates that the saline perfusion method can be used to prevent blood cell adhesion in the blood lines of extracorporeal circulation systems (such as hemodialysis and heart-lung machines) if certain technical problems involving the surface roughness can be resolved.