2016 Volume 41 Issue 4 Pages 646-651
We report on a patient with heparin-induced thrombocytopenia (HIT) type Ⅱ, which developed after a surgery for transverse colon cancer. An 80-year-old man with a history of myocardial infarction underwent right hemicolectomy for transverse colon cancer. He was given heparin before and after the operation. On the 7th postoperative day (POD), he experienced thrombocytopenia and disseminated intravascular coagulation was diagnosed. On the 8th POD, he underwent thrombectomy for thromboembolism from the left brachial artery to the radial and ulnar arteries. On the 9th POD thromboembolism reappeared in the left radial artery. Because the platelet count had decreased to 2.8×104/μl, we suspected HIT type Ⅱ. We withdrew heparin and gave argatroban. We diagnosed HIT type Ⅱ because of anti -HIT antibodies. On the 20th POD the patient died of cardiopulmonary arrest. Autopsy revealed the cause of death was tension pneumothorax and destruction of lung parenchyma due to thrombus.
