Hypothermia as a cause of coagulopathy during hepatectomy.
We report a 27-year-old hemostatically competent female scheduled for partial hepatectomy. During the operation, she experienced an accidental inferior vena cava tear and suffered acute blood loss. After fluid resuscitation and blood transfusion, she developed hypothermia, with a temperature of 33.8 degrees C, and severe coagulopathy with activated clotting time exceeding 1500 seconds measured using the Hemochron Response system (ITC, Edison, NJ, USA). Despite sufficient blood transfusion and correction of her electrolyte imbalance, the poor hemostasis persisted. After per-forming peritoneal lavage with warm saline, her condition dramatically improved and her hypothermia and severe coagulopathy were reversed.
Lau
Albert Wai-Cheung
AW
Department of Anesthesia, Pain Service and Critical Care Medicine, China Medical University Hospital, Taichung, Taiwan, R.O.C.
Chen
Chia-Chen
CC
Wu
Rick Sai-Chuen
RS
Poon
Kin-Shing
KS
D000328:Adult; D001778:Blood Coagulation Disorders / Q000209:etiology*; D005260:Female; D006498:Hepatectomy / Q000009:adverse effects*; D006801:Humans; D006895:Hydroxyethyl Starch Derivatives; D007035:Hypothermia / Q000150:complications*
D006895:Hydroxyethyl Starch Derivatives