Double valve replacement in a patient with anticardiolipin antibody syndrome

Cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB) was used during the replacement of the aortic and mitral valves in a 43year-old female patient. The case was complicated by the presence of a rare hypercoagulable condition called anticardiolipin (antiphospholipid) antibody syndrome. The course of bypass was uneventful a nd the patient was released from the intensive care unit on the first posto perative day. CPB in the presence of anticardiolipin antibodies is an unusu al situation that requires diligent hematological monitoring. Since 1989 th ere have been only 14 reported cases of these antibodies and cardiopulmonar y bypass. Eight of these have involved valve replacements.