Disposable filters for microaggregate removal from extracorporeal circulation.

A comparative study of three commercially available blood filters for use in extracorporeal circuits was made in dogs. All filters were efficient in removing infused microclots from the circulation, but all caused mild thrombocytopenia and two produced minimal hemolysis. In dogs infused with microclots, only those animals without blood filters in the infusing circuit showed evidence of pulmonary microembolism at autopsy. It was concluded that while the filters have minimal disadvantages, their potential in reducing microembolism in extracorporeal circuits far outweighs these disadvantages.