THROMBOEMBOLIC PHENOMENA AND THE USE OF THE PIG AS AN APPROPRIATE ANIMAL-MODEL FOR RESEARCH ON CARDIOVASCULAR DEVICES

Appropriate animal models are essential for studying the early and lat e mechanisms involved in the initiation of thromboembolism associated with cardiovascular devices. It is clear that a complex interaction be tween fluid mechanical factors, device geometry, and coagulation pheno mena defines the limitations of these devices. An appropriate animal m odel must be large enough to use devices designed for humans, because size and geometry significantly influence the fluid mechanics. It is a lso essential that the animal model mimic as closely as possible the m echanisms of coagulation, clotting, and thromboembolism present in hum ans.