Role of Autologous Blood Transfusion and Off - Pump Bypass in a Patient with Cold Agglutinin Disease for Coronary Artery Bypass Grafting: A Case Report

Rashmi D. Gujaran, Harvesp Panthakey, Roly Mishra, Hemant Mehta

Abstract: Cold agglutinin disease is known to cause serious complications like haemolysis or agglutination of red cells compromising perfusion of organs. The risk of complications increases significantly during major cardiac surgeries due to exposure to lower temperatures, blood transfusion perioperatively and use of cardiopulmonary bypass and cold cardioplegic solutions. In our patient, we have done successful coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) in a patient with cold reactive autoimmune haemolytic anaemia by using off - pump CABG (OPCAB) and autologous blood transfusion along with routine measures to prevent hypothermia.

Keywords: Cold agglutinin disease, autoimmune haemolytic anaemia, autologous blood donation, OPCAB