Cellular aggregation and destruction during blood circulation and oxygenation.

Platelet and leucocyte aggregation and severe haemolysis may occur in blood during the preparation of an extracorporeal circuit for open-heart surgery. Experiments with dog blood showed that both processes result from bubble oxygenation but not from circulation of diluted blood and that they appear to be inhibited by the presence of acid citrate dextrose and heparin, or citrate phosphate dextrose and heparin, but not by heparin alone.