[HSF] A TRALI case

[Ben Bidstrup]

>Mark and Prasanna,
>   Thanks for your input.  Like you, Mark, I had a very similar  case after an
>uneventful minimally invasive ASD closure and Cox-maze.  The  patient got
>some platelets intraop.  The postop TEE looked perfect, and he  came 
>off easily. 
>However, prior to transfer to CVICU, he started emitting  large amounts of
>thin bloody fluid from ET tube.  This was in spite of a  normal TEE with an EF
>of 60%.  He became progressively hypoxic and  ultimately died  hours postop. 
>Even though I live in South Florida, I  pushed for an autopsy.  The suture
>lines were perfect.  The lungs had  intense PMN infiltration consistent with a
>severe transfusion reaction.  I  don't remember the pathologist 
>saying TRALI, but
>I assume that's what it  was.
>Hal

Why give platelets intra-operatively?
-- 
Ben Bidstrup FRACS FRCSEd FEBCTS
Consultant Cardiothoracic Surgeon