Evaluation of Platelet Function Using Thromboelastography for a Patient With Pseudothrombocytopenia Requiring Cardiac Reoperation

Pseudothrombocytopenia (PTCP) is a phenomenon in which platelet aggregation occurs in vitro when an anticoagulant such as ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid (EDTA) is used in a blood sample, causing automated cell counters (ACC) to calculate a lower platelet count than the actual count. While a peripheral blood smear is required to assess platelet count in PTCP accurately, such a time-consuming test is not accessible during the perioperative period. In this study, we evaluated platelet function using thromboelastography (TEG) for a patient with PTCP requiring cardiac reoperation. The preoperative TEG value of the patient was within the normal range, suggesting that TEG for PTCP reflects platelet function more accurately than ACC. Since there is an insufficient number of case reports on the use of TEG for PTCP, it is necessary to consider its usefulness not only during the perioperative period but also for other critical care.