title: Alterations in antithrombin III activity and other blood coagulation parameters after retinal detachment surgery.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate perioperative changes in blood coagulation in patients undergoing retinal detachment surgery.
  
  
  METHODS
  Prospective study of 56 patients, aged from 19 to 82 (mean +/- S.D. 53 +/- 16.8) years, undergoing retinal detachment surgery (encirclement with scleral buckling) under general anesthesia. Excluded were patients with venous or arterial disease and any other factors that could affect the parameters under consideration.
  
  
  METHODS
  Blood was sampled from the cubital vein one day before surgery, immediately after induction of anesthesia but before surgery, immediately after completion of the operation but before the termination of anesthesia and on days 1 and 4 after the operation. We measured antithrombin III activity (AT III), platelet count, fibrinogen concentration, activated partial thromboplastin time (aPTT) and prothrombin time (PT).
  
  
  RESULTS
  Intraoperative AT III activity and platelet count were significantly lower, aPTT was shortened and PT prolonged, although all values remained within the normal range. These results indicate moderate activation of coagulation during retinal detachment surgery. On the first postoperative day coagulation activity was reduced, with increases in AT III activity, fibrinogen concentration and platelet count and prolongation of aPTT.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  During retinal detachment surgery there is moderate activation of coagulation in the systemic circulation.
authors.affiliation: Department of Ophthalmology, University School of Medical Sciences, Bydgoszcz, Poland.
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Malukiewicz-Wiśniewska
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Kotschy
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000768:Anesthesia, General; D000990:Antithrombin III / Q000378:metabolism*; D001777:Blood Coagulation / Q000502:physiology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010314:Partial Thromboplastin Time; D010976:Platelet Count; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012163:Retinal Detachment / Q000097:blood* / Q000601:surgery; D012591:Scleral Buckling; D015842:Serine Proteinase Inhibitors / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D015842:Serine Proteinase Inhibitors; D000990:Antithrombin III