Severe pancytopenia and coagulopathy discovered during anesthesia after pre-anesthetic evaluation - A report of two cases

Pre-anesthetic evaluation is an important aspect of perioperative patient management. However, anesthesiologists often encounter challenges during anesthesia due toconditions that are not detected during pre-anesthetic evaluations.

Case 1 involved a 74-year-old female patient scheduled for cranioplasty and meningioma excision. Severe pancytopenia was detected during anesthesia. Cranioplasty was onlyperformed, the surgery was terminated, and drug-induced pancytopenia was diagnosed andtreated. The pre-anesthetic test results were normal, except for anemia. Case 2 involved a71-year-old male patient who discovered large ecchymosis during general anesthesia preparation in the operating room for choledochal cyst surgery. Surgery was canceled to evaluatethe bleeding tendency, and acquired coagulation factor VIII deficiency was diagnosed andtreated. The pre-anesthetic tests were normal, except for prolongation of the activated partial thromboplastin time.

Abrupt hematologic and hemostatic changes may occur during anesthesiaeven though pre-anesthetic evaluation findings are normal.