In vitro and in vivo studies of the effect of the concentration of plasticizer di(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate on the blood compatibility of plasticized poly(vinyl chloride) drain tubes.

Evaluation of the effect of the plasticizer di(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate (DEHP) has been carried out on the properties of blood compatibility of plasticized poly(vinyl chloride) (PVC) through an in vitro registering of the amount of total protein in relation to the amount of DEHP. The influence of DEHP on the properties of blood compatibility has also been evaluated in vivo by tracing through a modified method of Gott (LV Gott and A Feruse, Bull NY Acad Med 1972; 48(2): 482-491) the presence of a thrombus and the patency of tubes made from the material tested, as well as the patency of tubes made from the same material having surfaces coated with paraffin and complexone. For all implanted samples the changes in coagulation time and the amount of haemoglobin after their stay inside a blood vessel in the abdominal cavity of a dog have been registered.