[A new preoperative evaluation of platelet aggregation--Part II]

With the new platelet function test which we reported in the first paper, the platelet aggregation was evaluated in 50 patients, and the comparison with the results of bleeding time was made in 20 cases. There was no statistical correlation between the bleeding time and the platelet aggregation. The bleeding time has been considered as an indicator of platelet function and is included in a preoperative check list. However, its result depends on the amount of platelets and the endothelial factor, and the reliability of bleeding time on platelet function is considered small, especially in patients medicated with antiplatelet drugs. For such patients, the platelet aggregation test is essential. The present study demonstrated that the patient belonging to grade-1 were resistant to hemostasis during the operation. Taking into the surgical and anesthetic depression on the platelet function into consideration, the patients below grade-2 are risky for the surgery.