Author/Editor     Cooper, John R; Abrams, Jacki; Frazier, OH; Radovancevic, Rajko; Radovancevic, Branislav; Bracey, Arthur W; Kindo, Michel J; Gregorič, Igor D
Title     Fatal pulmonary microthrombi during surgical therapy for end-stage heart failure: possible association with antifibrinolytic therapy
Type     članek
Source     J Thorac Cardiovasc Surg
Vol. and No.     Letnik 131, št. 5
Publication year     2006
Volume     str. 963-8
Language     eng
Abstract     Background: Maintaining hemostasis in patients with end-stage heart failure undergoing cardiac surgery is always challenging. These patients have chronic hepatic insufficiency, resulting in derangement of coagulation. In addition, they are commonly receiving both systemic anticoagulation (warfarin or heparin) and antiplatelet therapy. The introduction of antifibrinolytics has had a significant effect on postoperative coagulopathy. We report fatal pulmonary microthrombi in patients receiving antifibrinolytics who developed suprasystemic pulmonary artery pressures and right heart failure that was impossible to overcome despite insertion of a right ventricular assist device. Methods: We reviewed the surgical procedure and autopsy reports to identify patients with high pulmonary artery pressures caused by pulmonary microthrombi after a cardiac surgical procedure for end-stage heart failure. Patient demographics and preoperative, intraoperative, and postoperative variables were collected from a retrospective review of the patients' medical records. Results: We identified 9 patients (7 men and 2 women; mean age, 45 +/- 16 years) who died of pulmonary microthrombi after cardiac surgery between January 1997 and January 2004. Surgical procedures included 5 left ventricular assist device implantations, 2 heart transplantations, and 2 left ventricular reconstructions with mitral valve repair or replacement. Eight patients received aprotinin, and 1 patient received epsilon-aminocaproic acid immediately before and during cardiopulmonary bypass. All patients had severe suprasystemic pulmonary artery pressures after protamine administration for heparin reversal, a complication that proved fatal in all cases. Intraoperative wedge biopsy of the lungs revealed multiple microthrombi within capillaries and in the small- and medium-sized pulmonary arterioles. (Abstract truncated at 2000 characters)
Descriptors     6-AMINOCAPROIC ACID
ADULT
ANTIFIBRINOLYTIC AGENTS
APROTININ
ARTERIOLES
CAPILLARIES
HEART-ASSIST DEVICES
HYPERTENSION, PULMONARY
INTRA-AORTIC BALLOON PUMPING
KIDNEY DISEASES
LIVER DISEASES
LUNG
PULMONARY ARTERY
THROMBOSIS