Cardiopulmonary bypass procedures in patients with cold-reactive hemagglutination. A case report and a literature review.

The use of hypothermia during cardiopulmonary bypass and cardioplegia poses a special problem in patients with cold-reactive hemagglutination. This is a case report of a successful aortic valve replacement on a patient with severe aortic valve stenosis and severely symptomatic cold agglutinin induced hemolytic anemia. This case illustrates the various problems in the perioperative management of these patients. A literature review of these rare cases is provided.