The use of platelet transfusion in thrombocytopenic patients for phacoemulsification

Two elderly patients with histories of myelodysplastic syndrome and idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura both suffered from blurred vision for a long time and asked for cataract surgery. Due to their extremely low platelet counts, 5000/μL and 6000/μL, respectively, we administrated 12-unit platelet transfusions each, 2 hours to the surgery. The operations were carried out smoothly, and there were no bleeding-associated complications during these operative procedures. Both patients were satisfied with their visual improvement at postoperative 1-week follow up with visual acuity of 0.8 and 1.0, respectively, and there was no adverse event reported. From these two cases, we suggested that in patients with thrombocytopenia, phacoemulsification cataract surgery can be performed with preoperative platelet transfusion, producing favorable results without any bleeding-associated complications.