Platelet counts during and after esophagectomy and splenectomy on patients with liver cirrhosis

Abstract

Platelet counts of 22 adult patients with liver cirrhosis were examined before esophagectomy and splenectomy, 1hr and 2-3hr after the operation. The average preoperative platelet count was (7.1±2.5)×10⁴/mm³. Since a certain correlation seemed to exist between the platelet count and the K value of the ICG test performed on each patient, the patients were divided into two groups according to the K value of each patient. The patients with a K value larger than 0.08 had higher preoperative platelet counts and showed an increase of platelets after the operation by as much as (7.8±2.7)×10⁴/mm³ to (10.3±3.4)×10⁴/mm³. In the other patients with a K value less than 0.08, no immediate increase of platelets was found.
To prevent massive bleeding often seen during and after this kind of operation on patients with severe thrombocytopenia and liver injury, indicated by a low K value of less than 0.08, platelet enriched human plasma should be prepared for transfusion.