[Use of cryoprecipitate for dilution coagulopathy in a 7-month-old infant]

We experienced a case of dilution coagulopathy successfully treated with cryoprecipitate. A seven-month-old male infant with tetralogy of Fallot and right femoral arteriovenous fistula had undergone a modified Blalock-Taussig shunt at 63 days of age. He was scheduled to undergo complete repair of TOF and closure of femoral arteriovenous fistula. The patient was transferred to the operating room with tracheal intubation. Anesthesia was induced with midazolam and fentanyl and maintained with sevoflurane and fentanyl. Before cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB), femoral arteriovenous fistula was corrected. Then complete repair of TOF was performed under CPB. Massive bleeding was observed and laboratory results showed low plasma fibrinogen level (45 mg x dl(-1)). Cryoprecipitate 2 units were given and fibrinogen level was restored (171 mg x dl(-1)). Bleeding quickly slowed down sufficiently for weaning from CPB. The patient was separated easily from CPB on dopamine and dobutamine infusion. Post-CPB bleeding was minimal and the patient was transferred to intensive care unit. The patient was discharged from the hospital on postoperative day 50. In the present case, dilution coagulopathy occurred as a result of the combination of excessive fluid infusion due to massive bleeding and blood dilution due to CPB. Fresh frozen plasma could have been contraindicated to supplement fibrinogen because the patient's body weight was low. Cryoprecipitate, a highly concentrated source of fibrinogen, was effective for correcting fibrinogen deficit.