Thorac Cardiovasc Surg 1982; 30(6): 407-408
DOI: 10.1055/s-2007-1022434
Case Report

© Georg Thieme Verlag Stuttgart · New York

Mitral Valve Replacement and Splenectomy in a Patient with Chronic Idiopathic Thrombocytopenic Purpura

J. M. Marõnas, P. Llamas, J. M. Caffarena
  • Department of Cardiovascular Surgery, Ciudad Sanitaria “La Fe”, Valencia, Spain
Further Information

Publication History

1982

Publication Date:
19 March 2008 (online)

Summary

We report the management of a patient with chronic idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura and mitral valve disease. Although a two-stage approach was planned (splenectomy followed by mitral valve replacement one month later), the patient developed medicalty-resistant heart failure, and splenectomy plus mitral valve replacement were performed during the same operation. The platelet count at operation was 20,000/mm3. Platelet transfusion, used at the end of cardiopulmonary bypass, was considered no longer necessary in the postoperative period, as the platelet count quickly increased after the first postoperative day. The postoperative course was uneventful. Though we believe the two-stage surgical approach is preferable, our case shows that open-heart operations and splenectomy can be successfully performed simultaneously in patients with idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura.