Abstract
Retroperitoneal hemorrhage is rarely associated with acute deep vein thrombosis (DVT).
We present a case of retroperitoneal hemorrhage due to disruption of the external
iliac vein associated with acute DVT, which was carefully treated with an anticoagulant.
A 78-year-old woman complained of acute abdominal pain. Contrast-enhanced computed
tomography (CT) showed left retroperitoneal hematoma and venous thrombosis from just
above the bifurcation of the inferior vena cava to the left femoral vein. She was
admitted for conservative treatment without an anticoagulant. The next day, she developed
pulmonary embolism (PE), but administration of an anticoagulant was not started because
of the possibility of rebleeding. Forty-four hours after the onset of PE, unfractionated
heparin was administrated intravenously. After initiation of anticoagulation, retroperitoneal
hemorrhage did not expand and PE did not get worse. Follow-up contrast-enhanced CT
suggested May-Thurner syndrome (MTS). She was uneventfully discharged home on the
35th day with oral warfarin. Retroperitoneal hemorrhage is rarely caused by acute
DVT in the case of potential causes such as MTS. In such cases, the timing of initiation
of anticoagulation is difficult considering the possibility of rebleeding from retroperitoneal
hemorrhage. We should start anticoagulation based on both the state of hemostatic
and preventive procedures for PE.
Learning objective
Retroperitoneal hemorrhage is rarely caused by acute deep vein thrombosis because
of the iliac vein rupture. The subsequent occurrence of pulmonary embolism (PE) makes
it more complicated and critical because treatment strategies for these two conditions
are the opposite: hemostasis versus anticoagulation. The initiation of administration
of an anticoagulant should be determined based on status of patients, the procedures
of hemostasis, and prevention of PE.
Keywords
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Article info
Publication history
Published online: December 31, 2022
Accepted:
December 10,
2022
Received in revised form:
November 19,
2022
Received:
September 29,
2022
Publication stage
In Press Corrected ProofIdentification
Copyright
© 2022 Japanese College of Cardiology. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.
