Simultaneous mitral valve replacement and splenectomy in a patient with chronic idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura

: A 57-year-old female with valvular heart disease and chronic idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura (ITP) underwent successful open-heart surgery. Preoperative administration of steroids and high-dose gamma-globulin increased the platelet count from 3 x 10(4)/microgram at admission to 10 x 10(4)/microgram before the operation. Splenectomy followed by mitral valve replacement (SJM 27M) were performed simultaneously. No platelet transfusion needed during and after the operation owing to rapid increase in platelets that would occur following splenectomy. The postoperative course was uneventful. The present simultaneous splenectomy and open-heart operation appears to be a safe and effective procedure for minimizing perioperative blood loss in patients with ITP and heart disease.