Concomitant thymectomy and cardiac operation in a patient with pure red cell aplasia

Pure red cell aplasia is a rare condition resulting in severe anemia. Medic al therapy is indicated, unless a thymoma is present. In patients with conc urrent cardiac pathology requiring operation, simultaneous operation should be contemplated to avoid risky resternotomy. We describe an exceptionally rare case of a patient with pure red cell aplasia secondary to a thymoma wh o underwent concomitant thymectomy and coronary artery grafting with a succ essful surgical outcome. (C) 2001 by The Society of Thoracic Surgeons.