Prophylactic perioperative treatment in a patient with colon carcinoma complicated by polycythemia vera

A patient with colon carcinoma complicated by polycythemia vera (PV) who underwent a partial colectomy concomitant with prophylactic perioperative treatment resulting in successful outcome is herein described. Seven weeks after the cessation of the latest exacerbation of PV, a partial colectomy was performed. In order to prevent the development of disseminated intravascular coagulation and thrombotic complications, the following perioperative treatment was performed: administration of gabexate mesilate (2,000 mg/day), fresh frozen plasma (300 ml/day), heparin (5,000 IU/day) for 7 days and anti-thrombin-III for 4 days, and a potent antibiotic therapy for 12 days and graded elastic bandages around the bilateral lower extremities for 14 days. As a result, an uneventful postoperative course was achieved. The present case suggests that these treatments are useful in the perioperative management of PV patients.