The release of heparin has been mentioned as one of the causes of hypo
coagulability after reperfusion of the liver graft. It has been ascrib
ed to endogenous heparin released from the donor liver or to exogenous
heparin in the preservation fluid that is released into the recipient
after sequestration into the graft during preservation. The aim of th
is study was to investigate whether systemic administration of heparin
to the donor before the hepatectomy contributes to the appearance of
heparin in the recipient after reperfusion. We studied 20 patients und
ergoing an auxiliary heterotopic liver transplantation; 15 donors had
received heparin immediately before circulation arrest (median 300 IU/
kg body weight), but 5 had not. The thrombin time (TT), activated par
tial thromboplastin time (aPTT), and heparin neutralization test were
determined at several intervals during the transplantation.