Thrombocytopenia and Bleeding Tendency after Extracorporeal Circulation

Abstract
THE ideal perfusion fluid for use in an artificial cardiopulmonary system should approach the patient's own blood in composition. For this reason antigenically compatible donor blood with viable erythrocytes capable of gas exchange is used. Data on the need for other formed blood elements are lacking. It was not anticipated that leukocytes would have to be provided because of the patient's known large body reserves.1 It could not be predicted whether the limited platelet reserves2 could fill the needs of the postoperative period.The storage of donor blood by available technics adversely affects the yield of viable platelets.3 , 4 Theoretically, therefore, . . .