Successful treatment of massive pulmonary embolism after coronary artery bypass grafting due to heparin-induced thrombocytopenia.
Massive pulmonary embolism is a rare complication in patients undergoing coronary artery bypass grafting. Frequently patients have had exposure to heparin before the operation. In this article we report a patient who 6 days after a cardiac operation suffered a massive pulmonary embolism. The patient was later discovered to have heparin-associated thrombocytopenia with serum heparin antibody. We recommend patients receiving heparin have frequent platelet counts and those with induced thrombocytopenia undergo sensitivity testing.
Ralph-Edwards
A C
AC
Department of Cardiovascular Surgery, University of Toronto, Toronto Hospital, Ont., Canada.
Feindel
C M
CM
Glynn
M F
MF
D000328:Adult; D001026:Coronary Artery Bypass; D017128:Embolectomy; D006493:Heparin / Q000009:adverse effects*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D011183:Postoperative Complications; D011655:Pulmonary Embolism / Q000209:etiology / Q000601:surgery*; D013921:Thrombocytopenia / Q000139:chemically induced* / Q000150:complications
D006493:Heparin