Anesthetic Management of a Patient with Von Willebrand Disease

Abstract

Anesthetic Management of a Patient with Von Willebrand Disease

This case report describes an anesthesia-related adverse event encountered in the hospital operating room with regards to profuse esophageal bleeding intra operatively and post operatively in a patient with Von Willebrand disease (VWD) Type 1. Although Type 1 typically does not cause profuse bleeding, anesthesia providers should have a high suspicion of bleeding involving any procedures in the oropharynx such as TEE or EGD. Discussed are the anesthetic considerations of drawing baseline labs, assess the risk of bleeding, pretreat DDAVP and anticipate second line treatments. Have Humate-P available on site in case the bleeding is uncontrolled. Second line treatments include cryoprecipitate and tranexemic acid.