Background: A variety of rotary blood pumps are under development worldwide to serve as chronic ventricular assist devices (VADs). Historically VADs have been associated with thrombotic and thromboembolic complications, yet the ability to evaluate the thrombotic process in preclinical device testing has been limited.
Methods: We have developed and applied flow cytometric assays for activated platelets, platelet microaggregates, and platelet life span and consumption to calves implanted with an axial flow VAD and calves undergoing a sham surgical procedure.
Results: Surgical sham calves had significant increases in circulating activated platelets (p < 0.05) that resolved within 17 days, and no increases in circulating platelet microaggregates. Calves with uneventful VAD implant periods had early transient elevations in platelet microaggregates and prolonged elevations in activated platelets that did not recover to preoperative values during the study. Daily platelet consumption in VAD implanted calves was increased by 20% +/- 3%. Calves with thrombotic deposition within the VAD and elevated thromboembolism observed at autopsy experienced increases in circulating activated platelets and microaggregates at the end of the implant period when VAD flow decreased.
Conclusions: This study demonstrates the ability of flow cytometry-based platelet assays to differentiate VAD implant operations from VAD support, and suggests differences that exist between uneventful VAD support and support with complications. These techniques should have value in evaluating other cardiovascular devices undergoing preclinical testing and provide insight into the temporal impact of these devices on the hemostatic system.