TITLE:
Intraoperative Bleeding Associated with Preoperative Use of Ganoderma lucidum Supplements
AUTHORS:
Steven Shulman, Shelly Sharma, Bernadette Cracchiolo, Kesavan Shubhangi, Anthony Sifonios
KEYWORDS:
Reishi Mushroom, Ganoderma lucidium, Simvastation, Montelukast
JOURNAL NAME:
Open Journal of Anesthesiology,
Vol.4 No.6,
June
12,
2014
ABSTRACT: Reishi mushroom, also known as Ganoderma
lucidum, is a type of edible medicinal fungi that is found throughout Asia.
Recent research has shown that it may also have antiplatelet activity that is
similar to aspirin. Likewise simvastatin has been shown to inhibit platelet
aggregation. In addition, montelukast has anecdotally related to one case of
acquired thrombopathia and may interfere with platelet aggregation. We report a
case of intraoperative hemorrhage with laparoscopic trocar placement and
dissection in a patient concomitantly taking Ganoderma lucidum supplements, simvastatin and montelukast. The
hemorrhage only responded to a transfusion of platelets. We believe this is the
first report associating Ganoderma lucidum products with an intraoperative hemorrhage. We recommend that patients who are on simvastatin, montelukast or
an anticoagulant should refrain from taking Ganoderma
lucidum products for seven days prior to surgery.