We have presently designed the method to collect plasma from the donor and simultaneously exchange that of the patient with it. This method has been experimentaly evaluated for its safety and efficiency.
In both a healthy dog and the dog with induced acute hepatic failure by galactosamine, simultaneous extracorporeal circulation was carried out. The blood from the healthy dog is led into Plasmaflo, where plasma is separated from the blood and then stored in collection chamber. The same amount of substitute fluid as that of the separated plasma, is introduced into the venous side chamber in the extracorporeal blood circuit of the healthy dog by double channel roller pump, maintaining the balance of circulating plasma volume constant. The plasma separated from the dog with acute hepatic failure, using the above mentioned technique, is discarded and the same amount of plasma separated from the donor is sent into the venous side chamber in the blood circuit of the diseased dog by double channel roller pump. Thus the plasma of the dog with hepatic failure is simultaneously exchanged with the collected plasma.
This plasma exchange therapy was safely and easily performed in the experimental dogs and was considered to be the best way because the fresh and warm plasma from the donor was instantly given to the recipient, without any delay and any loss, which otherwise could have been introduced by the preservation of the plasma.