Coronary artery bypass grafting in an immune thrombocytopenic purpura patient using off-pump techniques.

We performed an off-pump coronary artery bypass grafting (OPCABG) procedure on a 60-year-old woman with idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura (ITP) whose platelet count was 42 x 10(3) per microliter on admission. She was treated with immunoglobulin G (IgG) (0.5 g.kg(-1).d(-1)) for 4 days, resulting in a platelet count rise to 187 x 10(3) per microliter. She subsequently underwent an uneventful OPCABG procedure without requiring any blood transfusions. The combination of OPCABG and preoperative IgG therapy appears to be an ideal strategy for ITP patients requiring coronary revascularization.

Tricuspid valve replacement: bioprosthetic or mechanical valve?

Significant morbidity and mortality is associated with tricuspid valve replacement, and controversy still exists as to the ideal prosthesis in this position. This study aimed to identify the risk factors for low cardiac output and mortality, and whether bioprosthetic or mechanical valves perform better in the tricuspid position. Results of 121 tricuspid valve replacements in 104 patients between January 1966 and December 2002 were reviewed. Most patients were in New York Heart Association functional class III or IV. Perioperative mortality was 19%. On multivariate analysis, age and preoperative jaundice were significant predictors of low cardiac output; age, jaundice, atrial fibrillation, and bypass time were significant predictors of mortality. Mechanical valves were significantly more prone to thromboembolism, whereas bioprostheses suffered structural valve deterioration. There were no significant differences in anticoagulation or bleeding episodes between the two groups, nor in valve-related events, deaths, and long term survival. There was no significant difference in performance so as to recommend one type over the other, but bioprosthetic valves may be more favorable as they fail predictably.