Dynamic Evaluation of Clotting Phenomena in Vitro and Perfluorochemical Oxygen Transport Across a Membrane-bound Thrombus Model

Citrated platelet-rich plasma was used to occlude 3-microns and 10-microns poresize Nuclepore membranes after recalcification as a thrombus model. Morphologic studies, using both light microscopy and scanning electron microscopy, indicated that over 90 percent of the number of pores available for filtration in hydrophilic and hydrophobic membranes were occluded either partially or completely. Results of transient and steady state pressure drop measurements supported the morphologic studies. It was found that the percentage of oxygen transported across the occluded membranes was greater for filtration of red blood cell suspensions diluted with a perfluorochemical emulsion than that of those diluted with Ringers. The findings in this study suggested that perfluorochemical emulsions might transport oxygen across a thrombus to maintain tissue viability during acute ischemic events.