[Aneurysm of the abdominal aorta and preoperative disseminated intravascular coagulation].

A case of abdominal aortic aneurysm associated with preoperative signs of disseminated intravascular coagulation is reported. The 69-year-old female patient presented with spontaneously appearing petechiae and bruising. She had 0.95 g.l-1 fibrinogen, 105 G.l-1 platelets, and 100 micrograms.ml-1 fibrin and fibrinogen degradation products. Investigations revealed an 80 mm diameter aneurysm of the abdominal aorta, extending from the coeliac trunk to the iliac arteries. Heparin 7,000 IU.day-1 resulted in a biological improvement for a week only. At that time, levels of coagulation factors were: 92% factor II, 88% factor V, 100% factors VII and X, 100% antithrombin III. Surgical cure of the aneurysm was nevertheless carried out. Twenty standard units of platelets, 8 g fibrinogen, four units of fresh frozen plasma, five homologous and two autologous red cell units were transfused during the procedure. No coagulation factors were necessary during the postoperative course, which was uneventful. The management of coagulation factor infusions, before or after aortic cross-clamping, is discussed.