Significant Hyperfibrinolysis in a Patient with Intracardiac Thrombosis: To Give Antifibrinolytics or Not?

Abstract

The hemostatic system is a delicate balance between the coagulation, anticoagulation, and fibrinolytic systems and is responsible for preventing both hemorrhage and thrombosis. End stage liver disease is characterized by a rebalanced hemostatic system that is fragile and easily tipped towards either hemorrhage or thrombosis. During an orthotopic liver transplantation, patients are exposed to a wide variety of factors that can shift them from a hypercoagulable state to a hypocoagulable state almost instantaneously. The treatment for these two disease states contradict each other, and therefore patients in this condition can be extremely difficult to manage. Here, we present a patient who underwent an orthotopic liver transplantation and suffered an intracardiac thrombosis shortly after reperfusion of the donor graft, that resolved with supportive care, who then went on to develop severe persistent hyperfibrinolysis and massive hemorrhage that was successfully treated with an antifibrinolytic agent.