Case Report

Cardiopulmonary Bypass in the Sickle Cell Anemia Patient using Profound Hypothermia and Circulatory Arrest: A Case Report

University of California San Diego Medical Center, San Diego, California, and Perfusion Services of Baxter Healthcare Corporation, San Diego, California

^* Address correspondence to: Virginia Longnecker 211 Colonial Homes Drive, #1102 Atlanta, GA 30309-1287

Abstract

A homozygous sickle cell anemia patient undergoing a pulmonary thromboendarterectomy required the use of profound hypothermia and circulatory arrest. Reports of sickling crises have been documented under conditions of hypoxemia, acidosis, hypothermia, hypovolemia, and blood trauma. This patient's management included preoperative and intraoperative exchange transfusion, increased blood flow rates and optimizing blood gas values to prevent the sickling environment.

The pulmonary thromboendarterectomy surgery was successful in reducing pulmonary hypertension in this sickle cell patient. Using these techniques, no adverse sickling effects resulted from the profound hypothermia and circulatory arrest.