Heparin-coated circuit in coronary surgery. A clinical study

We performed a randomizedstudy in 101 patients whounderwent routine isolated coronarybypass graft surgery. In 50 cases anentire coated Carmeda circuit wasused (coated group), and an uncoatedcircuit in the remaining 51 (uncoatedgroup). A Medtronic Maxima oxygenatorand a Biomedicus Bioheadwere used in all cases. Patients withcoated circuits received low systemicheparinization with a heparin loadingdose of 200 IU/kg, and 300 IU/kg forthe control. Activated coagulationtime was maintained at more than275 s for the coated group versusmore than 400 s for the uncoatedone. The mean age of patients was64.1_+9.6 for coated and 63.5.+9.7 forthe uncoated group. The number ofcoronary grafts was 3.1_+0.7 for thecoated group and 3.1___0.1 for the uncoatedone. Cross-clamp and bypasstimes were 53+14 and 98+24 minfor the coated, versus 57_15 and104_+24 for the uncoated, group.Chest drainage was 989.4+509.5 ml