Anaesthetic significance and management of a child with neonatal purpura fulminans

Abstract

Protein C deficiency is a rare autosomal-dominant disorder of varying severity. Patients with homozygous and compound heterozygous protein C deficiency present with neonatal purpura fulminans (NPF). Other presentations usually include disseminated intravascular coagulation and venous thromboembolism. This disorder usually poses a unique anaesthetic challenge to the anaesthesiologist, requiring special precautions to prevent various intra- and post-operative complications. We hereby report the successful anaesthetic management of a 1-month-old infant who presented with NPF.

Keywords

• Anaesthesia
• disseminated intravascular coagulation
• neonatal purpura fulminans
• protein C