Management of a deep space infection of the neck in a patient with Glanzmann's thrombasthenia

Abstract

Glanzmann’s thrombasthenia is an autosomal recessive disorder characterized by a deficiency or abnormality of the platelet membrane glycoprotein (GP) IIb-IIIa complex.‘-4 In patients with this disorder, a prolonged bleeding time and absent or substantially reduced platelet aggregation in response to diphosphate (ADP), epinephrine, collagen, or thrombin are observed, although the platelet count, platelet morphologic features, plasma coagulation, and platelet aggregation in response to ristocetin are norma1.2‘4 Clot retraction may or may not be impaired. In thrombasthenic patients, epistaxis, frequent superficial bruising, gingival bleeding, and menorrhagia are common manifestations. Some investigators have reported general or local management of spontaneous and trauma-induced bleeding in patients with thrombasthenia.3,5-7 Surgery and other invasive procedures are frequently complicated by excessive hemorrhaging. This report describes the procedures involved in treating a deep space infection in a patient with Glanzmann’s thrombasthenia.