Open AccessOff-pump coronary artery surgery in a patient with essential thrombocythaemia: two life-threatening complications in the same patient
Author(s) -
Kaan Kaya,
Raif Çavolli,
Alpaslan Telli,
Refik Taşöz
Publication year - 2009
Publication title -
bmj case reports
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.231
H-Index - 26
ISSN - 1757-790X
DOI - 10.1136/bcr.01.2009.1503
Subject(s) - medicine , interventional cardiology , coronary artery disease , artery , surgery , cardiology
Essential thrombocythaemia (ET) is a rare chronic myeloproliferative disease characterised by persistent thrombocytosis. Cerebral, myocardial and peripheral thrombosis are frequently seen complications, but bleeding and venous thrombosis are more rare. Here, a case of essential thrombocythaemia complicated by cerebral and myocardial thrombosis is presented. The patient's platelet count was 680×10(9)/litre on admission. Electrocardiogram showed a slight ST elevation in leads V1 to V4. A coronary angiography was performed and it revealed a severe stenosis of the left anterior descending artery. The patient had a successful off-pump coronary artery bypass grafting surgery. After the operation the platelet count was 390×10(9)/litre. The patient received hydroxyurea and aspirin treatment preoperatively and continued postoperatively. ET is a rare myeloproliferative disease; its complications are also rare, but the occurrence of two life-threatening complications in the same patient is rarer still. Further investigations are needed to determine the risk stratification for patients with ET undergoing cardiac surgery.