Essential Thrombocythemia and Cardiac Surgery: A Case Series and Review of the Literature

Patients with ET undergoing cardiac operations represent a complex cohort at risk for perioperative thrombotic or hemorrhagic complications, or both. Although not currently an indication for platelet reduction therapy by risk stratification criteria, preoperative cytoreduction to platelet counts of less than 800 × 109/L and perhaps lower should be considered in patients undergoing cardiac operations.