Double valve replacement without blood transfusion in a case complicated with liver cirrhosis and pancytopenia

A 63-year-old woman complicated with liver cirrhosis and pancytopenia was admitted for aortic and mitral valve replacement. As laboratory findings at time of admission showed pancytopenia with Hb of 7.3 g/dl, WBC of 2,200/mm3, and platelet of 6.2 x 10(4)/mm3, splenectomy was first conducted and the blood cells and platelet increased in number. At 27 days after splenectomy, double vale replacement was performed without blood transfusion and her postoperative course was unevenfull. It is considered that preoperative splenectomy is useful in management of patients complicated with hypersplenism and pancytopenia.