Thrombotic occlusion of Blalock-Taussig shunt in a patient with unnoticed protein C deficiency.

Abstract

A 6-month-old girl with a diagnosis of double-outlet right ventricle and pulmonary stenosis had a left modified Blalock-Taussig shunt. Chest computed tomography (CT) performed on postoperative day 11 showed good patency of the shunt. However, on postoperative day 16, oxygen saturation suddenly dropped below 40%, and chest CT showed thrombotic occlusion of the shunt. Urgent thrombectomy was performed successfully. Examination of coagulation factors revealed low levels of both the amount and activity of protein C (27% and 31%, respectively). Diagnosis of heterozygous hereditary protein C deficiency was made, and the patient was placed on warfarin. She is currently in good condition.

• Authors: Manabu Watanabe, Mitsuru Aoki, Tadashi Fujiwara
• Journal: General thoracic and cardiovascular surgery (Gen Thorac Cardiovasc Surg) Vol. 56 Issue 11 Pg. 544-6 (Nov 2008) ISSN: 1863-6705 [Print] Japan
• PMID: 19002753 (Publication Type: Case Reports, Journal Article)

Chemical References

• Anticoagulants
• Warfarin

Topics

• Anticoagulants (therapeutic use)
• Double Outlet Right Ventricle (complications, surgery)
• Emergencies
• Humans
• Infant
• Postoperative Complications
• Protein C Deficiency (complications, diagnosis, drug therapy)
• Pulmonary Valve Stenosis (surgery)
• Radiography, Thoracic
• Thrombectomy
• Thrombosis (etiology, surgery)
• Tomography, X-Ray Computed
• Vascular Surgical Procedures (adverse effects, methods)
• Warfarin (therapeutic use)