Surface tension effects of heparin coating on arterial line filters.

Abstract

An investigation was conducted to determine the effects that heparin-coated screen arterial line filters have on the surface tension of cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB) priming solution. Five brands of non-heparin coated arterial line filters (Bard H625, Bentley AF1040, Intersept 40mum, Pall EC3840 and Pall SP3840) and four brands of heparin-coated filters (Bard H640, Bentley AF1040C and AF1040D and Intersept 40mum) were tested in a closed-loop circuit containing two litres of Plasma-Lyte A and pumped at a rate of five litres per minute. Samples were collected at 0.5, 20, 60 and 120 minutes to determine the surface tension of the recirculated solution. The non-heparin coated arterial line filters showed no significant changes in surface tension, either between the individual groups or over time. The benzalkonium-heparin coated filters (Bard H640, Bentley AF1040C and Intersept 40mum) all showed significant decreases in surface tension when compared to zero circulation time or to the noncoated groups. The largest drop in surface tension occurred within the first five minutes of recirculation. The circuit with a Bentley AF 1040D (a new nonbenzalkonium process) coated filter showed no significant change in surface tension.