Prostacyclin: a solution to some problems of extracorporeal circulation. Experiments in greyhounds.

In cardiopulmonary-bypass experiments in greyhounds the effects of adding prostacyclin, prostacyclin plus heparin, and heparin alone to the extracorporeal circulation were compared. With heparin alone platelet count and function were reduced, the pressure differential across the arterial filters rose, platelet deposits were found on the arterial filters, and plasma-fibrinogen levels fell. Plasma from these dogs was toxic to fetal-mouse hearts in culture. With prostacyclin alone, fibrinogen levels fell, but the platelets were preserved. With a combination of prostacyclin and heparin, platelet count and function were maintained, there was no consumption of fibrinogen, and there was little deposition on the arterial filters.