Heparin induced thrombocytopenia causing life-threatening postoperative haemorrhage.
Heparin is ubiquitously employed in surgery in the prevention and treatment of thromboembolic disorders. A small but significant number of patients receiving heparin develop thrombocytopenia and are at risk of both serious thromboembolic disease and haemorrhage. A case is reported where a young woman developed life-threatening postoperative haemorrhage associated with heparin induced thrombocytopenia (HIT).
Rice
P
P
Mater Hospital Trust, Belfast.
Dace
S
S
McMullin
M F
MF
Clements
W D
WD
D000208:Acute Disease; D000328:Adult; D005260:Female; D006493:Heparin / Q000009:adverse effects*; D006801:Humans; D019106:Postoperative Hemorrhage / Q000139:chemically induced*; D013921:Thrombocytopenia / Q000139:chemically induced*
D006493:Heparin