Severe Thrombocytopenia in an Immune Thrombocytopenic Parturient Non-responder to Medical Line of Treatment: Anaesthetic Management for Splenectomy Combined with Caesarean Section

Abstract

We report anaesthesia management of a parturient with severe thrombocytopenia secondary to immune thrombocytopenic purpura (ITP). Her platelet count remained around 3×10(9)/l in spite of optimum medical therapy and hence was posted for splenectomy combined with caesarean section. Anaesthesia implications of severe thrombocytopenia comprises risk of central nervous system bleeding, perioperative haemorrhage causing placental hypoperfusion and foetal hypoxia, risk of trauma to compromised airway and risk of epidural haematoma. The purpose of this paper is to discuss the risk factors associated, different management strategies and also to review the literature in an attempt to ameliorate the anaesthesiologist in perioperative management of these cases.