Mechanical hemolytic anemia after surgical correction of a congenital cardiopathy

Mechanical hemolytic anemia is a well known complication after prosthetic valve replacement; however it is very rare after operations for congenital heart diseases, except ostium primum. We present a case of severe hemolysis in the postoperative period after the correction of an aneurysm of the sinus of Valsalva which had ruptured into the right ventricle of a 12 years old girl. The mechanical cause of the hemolysis was confirmed with the study of the mean life of transfused red blood cells marked with Cr 51. The etiology of the hemolytic anemia, the response to the iron treatment, as well as the need for further surgery are discussed.