Hemostasis in congenital heart disease

ABSTRACT

A study of the hemostatic status of twenty- five patients with cyanotic congenital heart disease, [Group I] twenty patients with congenital acyanotic heart disease [Group II] was undertaken to define the coagulation abnormalities in the cardiac patients when compared to fifteen control children [Group III] of similar age and sex. A significant prolonged bleeding time, prothrombin time, thrombin time was proved in the cyanotic congenital heart group when compared to the control group, Thrombocytopenia, a significant decrease in platelet aggregation with ADP and also a significant decrease in plasma fibrinogen and fibrin degradation product [F.D.P] as shown in Group I, Plasma Anti-thrombin- III [ATIII], plasma total and free protein S levels, protein C levels showed a non significant change in congenital cyanotic heart. The only abnormality in acyanotic patient was a slightly prolonged bleeding time and prothrombin time not statistically significant. Because of the abnormal hemostasis in congenital cyanotic heart disease, each child must be studied and considered separately prior to surgery