Acute thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura following abdominal surgeries: a report of three cases.

Acute thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura (TTP) occurred in three patients following abdominal surgeries. One patient underwent extensive lysis for intestinal adhesions with bowel resection, another cholecystectomy for acute cholecystitis, and the third right colectomy and partial intestinal resection for colon cancer. The diagnosis of acute TTP was established on the basis of absent hematologic features of TTP prior to surgery and development of microangiopathic hemolytic anemia (MAHA), thrombocytopenia, and unexplained mental changes after surgery. Hematologic evidence of TTP developed 3 to 9 days after surgery. Other clinical features were acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) in two patients and peripheral digit ischemic syndrome (PDIS) also in two patients. In all three patients, establishing the diagnosis of TTP was delayed. Exchange plasmapheresis in one patient was ineffective due to associated ARDS and two others died soon after the diagnosis was established. In view of our experience, postoperative TTP should be considered in the differential diagnosis of the patient who develops unexplained anemia and thrombocytopenia following an abdominal surgery. Presence of hemolytic anemia, schistocytosis, and unexplained thrombocytopenia should alert the possibility of TTP. Copyright 2000 Wiley-Liss, Inc.