Postoperative intravascular hemolysis occurred in one patient was alleviated by pentoxifylline. The patient underwent partial atrioventricular septal defect repair and had hemolysis caused by teflon felt. The patient was treated with oral pentoxifylline, and the degree of hemolysis decreased. Although the exact mechanism of the pentoxifylline effect on mechanical intravascular hemolysis is unclear, pentoxifylline reduces blood viscosity by acting directly on red blood cells and results in more malleable erythrocytes. [Journal of Turgut Ozal Medical Center 1997;4(1):26-28]
Key Words: Open heart surgery, hemolysis, pentoxifylline.
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