Antiplatelet Therapy and Spontaneous Retroperitoneal Hematoma: A Case Report and Literature Review

The epidemiology and management of iliopsoas hematoma with femoral nerve palsy: A descriptive systematic review of 174 cases

INTRODUCTION

Iliopsoas hematoma with femoral nerve palsy is a rare phenomenon with no consensus treatment algorithm. The objective of this study was to perform a systematic review of all reported cases of femoral nerve palsy secondary to iliopsoas hematoma to better elucidate it's optimal treatment.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Queries of the PubMed, Embase, and Cochrane databases were performed for reports available in English of femoral nerve palsy secondary to iliopsoas, psoas, or iliacus hematoma. 1491 articles were identified. After removal of duplicated publications and review of abstract titles via a majority reviewer consensus, 217 articles remained for consideration. Dedicated review of the remaining articles (including their reference sections) yielded 122 articles representing 174 distinct cases. Clinical data including patient age, sex, medical history, use of pharmacologic anticoagulation, sensory and motor examination at presentation and follow-up, hematoma etiology and location, time to intervention, and type of intervention were collected. Descriptive statistics were generated for each variable.

RESULTS

Femoral nerve palsy secondary to iliopsoas hematoma occurred at a mean age of 44.5 years old. A majority of patients (60%) were male, and a majority of hematomas (54%) occurred due to pharmacologic anticoagulation. Most hematomas (57%) were treated conservatively, and almost half (49%) - regardless of treatment modality - resulted in persistent motor deficits at final follow-up. A minority of patients treated surgically (34%) had residual motor deficit at final follow-up, while 66% of those treated medically had resultant motor deficits, although no direct statistical comparison was able to be performed.

DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSIONS

The disparate available data on iliopsoas hematoma with femoral nerve palsy precludes the completion of a true metanalysis, and therefore any conclusions on an optimal treatment algorithm. Based on review of the literature, small to moderate hematomas are often treated conservatively, while larger hematomas with progressive neurological symptoms are usually managed with a percutaneous decompression or surgery.

LEVEL OF EVIDENCE

IV.

A Case of Spontaneous Perinephric Hematoma From Rivaroxaban

Spontaneous perinephric hematoma is an uncommon but serious condition that is typically caused by tumor hemorrhage or vascular disease such as polyarteritis nodosa. We describe a 78-year-old Chinese gentleman with underlying chronic kidney disease, renal cysts, non-obstructive renal stones, hypertension, ischemic heart disease, and atrial fibrillation who was on rivaroxaban and clopidogrel. He developed spontaneous perinephric hematoma complicated by acute kidney injury, anemia, and myocardial infarction who underwent angioembolization and packed cell transfusion. He did not have further bleeding episodes, and his kidney function improved before discharge.

Spontaneous retroperitoneal haemorrhage secondary to anticoagulation polypharmacy

Retroperitoneal haemorrhage (RH) is not uncommon in patients with provoking events like trauma. However, spontaneous RH (SRH) is a rare and life-threatening complication described as the development of bleeding into the retroperitoneal cavity, appearing spontaneously and without a preceding history of trauma or other predisposing illness. We are reporting a case of an elderly patient with recurrent deep vein thrombosis who had developed SRH secondary to concurrent use of multiple anticoagulation agents, resulting from poor healthcare follow-up and lack of sufficient medication reconciliation. This article highlights the significance of recognising risk factors for SRH, as well as management strategies through literature review.

Delayed retroperitoneal hemorrhage during extracorporeal membrane oxygenation in COVID-19 patients: A case report and literature review

BACKGROUND

Retroperitoneal hemorrhage (RPH) is a rare and severe complication in patients undergoing extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO). Clinical diagnosis is difficult.

CASE SUMMARY

Three cases of RPH patients with corona virus disease-19 (COVID-19) were included in this study. All three suffered from respiratory failure, were treated with veno-venous or veno-arterial-venous ECMO, and experienced RPH during ECMO treatment. Two of the COVID-19 cases were diagnosed after the patients experienced abdominal pain. The other patient exhibited decreases in the ECMO circuit flow rate and hemoglobin level. Two cases were treated by transcatheter arterial embolization, and one was treated conservatively. The hemorrhage in each of the three cases did not deteriorate. Satisfactory treatment results were achieved for the three patients because of prompt diagnosis and treatment.

CONCLUSION

Although the incidence of RPH during ECMO treatment is low, the risk is increased by anticoagulant use and local mechanical injury. If declines in blood flow velocity and hemoglobin are detected, RPH should be considered, and prompt aggressive therapy should be started.

Spontaneous retroperitoneal haemorrhage post-coronary angioplasty: a case report

Background

Spontaneous retroperitoneal haemorrhage (SRH) is a rare cause of retroperitoneal haemorrhage in patients who are on anticoagulants or antiplatelet agents or both.

Case summary

We report here a rare and catastrophic complication of use of anticoagulants and antiplatelet drugs in a case undergoing coronary angioplasty. The patient had multiple coronary risk factors and developed acute myocardial infarction with pulmonary oedema and hypotension during hospitalization for treatment of lower respiratory tract infection and diabetic ketoacidosis. He underwent successful angioplasty of the culprit vessel but later developed hypotension attributable to retroperitoneal haemorrhage. No bleeding site was identified despite extensive evaluation of the aorta and iliac vessels.

Discussion

A diagnosis of SRH is considered when a patient on anticoagulants or antiplatelet drugs develops retroperitoneal haemorrhage without any specific identifiable site of bleeding in the retroperitoneum. Diffuse vasculopathy and atherosclerosis or vasculitis of the small vessels in the retroperitoneum may result in rupture of the most friable vessels and result in bleeding. Intense cough, forceful vomiting or sneezing may also be responsible for traumatizing the vessels and resulting in bleeding. Most cases recover with conservative management but some may benefit from interventional occlusion of the leak or surgical decompression in cases of abdominal compartment syndrome.

Spontaneous Retroperitoneal Hematoma in the Setting of Myasthenic Crisis

Our case highlights a patient with spontaneous retroperitoneal hematoma without clear cause in the setting of myasthenic crisis. While myasthenia gravis (MG) has been reported in the literature to be associated with vascular pathology such as polyarteritis nodosa, its association with coagulopathy and spontaneous major bleed is currently unclear. The patient in this case developed a sudden unprovoked iliopsoas hematoma while in the ICU for the management of newly diagnosed MG. Acute anemia was the only clinical sign which was later confirmed by imaging findings.

Iliacus hematoma syndrome: A systematic review of recent literature and case report

BACKGROUND

Femoral nerve palsy caused by iliacus hematoma is an infrequent diagnosis often missed because of its insidious presentation. However, due to potentially devastating outcomes, prompt recognition and management are essential.

OBJECTIVES

The aim with this study was to better characterize clinical presentation, diagnosis, treatment, and prognosis of iliacus hematoma.

METHODS

We performed a systematic review of recent literature regarding femoral neuropathy secondary to an iliacus hematoma. A structured literature review of multiple databases ((PubMed, Web of Science, EMBASE, and Cochrane library) referenced articles from 2000 to 2019.

RESULTS

A total of 25 patients from 25 published studies were identified. The average age of the patients was forty years (range, 12 to 85 years). There were 16 male patients and 9 female patients. The single most important predisposing cause of iliacus hematoma was trauma (14/25), with a pooled percentage of 56%. All patients with spontaneous hematoma were taking antiplatelet medications. Thirteen patients (52%) were treated conservatively with analgesia. Surgical decompression was performed in 10 patients (40%). At the final follow-up, complete resolution of symptoms was achieved in 12 patients (48%).

CONCLUSIONS

Although rare, iliacus hematoma syndrome carries significant morbidity. Spontaneous iliacus muscle hematoma should be considered in the differential diagnosis of leg pain in a patient who is on anticoagulation therapy. In patients with an iliacus hematoma and neurology deficit, conservative treatment can be considered initially if there is no progression in the symptoms evident at the time of presentation. However, prompt surgical decompression has been highly recommended in patients with progressive neurological deficits.

Clinics in diagnostic imaging (201). Small bowel intramural haematoma induced by anticoagulation therapy with associated reactive ileus

A 74-year-old woman receiving long-term anticoagulation with warfarin for chronic atrial fibrillation presented with severe acute abdominal pain, diarrhoea and vomiting. Initial laboratory workup revealed a deranged coagulation profile. Computed tomography of the abdomen and pelvis demonstrated spontaneous distal jejunal intramural haematoma with associated reactive ileus. No overt pneumatosis intestinalis, intraperitoneal free gas or haemoperitoneum was seen. Based on clinical and imaging findings, a diagnosis of over-anticoagulation complicated by small bowel intramural haematoma was made. The patient was managed non-operatively with analgesia, cessation of warfarin and reversal therapy with vitamin K. Warfarin therapy was recommenced upon resolution of symptoms and optimisation of coagulation status. The clinical presentation, radiological features and overall management of anticoagulation-induced bleeding are further discussed in this article.

Spontaneous Retroperitoneal Bleeding in a Patient with Primary Antiphospholipid Syndrome on Aspirin

Retroperitoneal bleeding is a rare and difficult to diagnose condition, defined as bleeding in the retroperitoneal space without associated trauma or iatrogenic manipulation. It has been associated with hematologic diseases and malignancies and is more common in patients receiving systemic anticoagulation. A 50-year-old man on aspirin presented with abdominal pain. Physical examination revealed abdominal tenderness and a palpable mass at the left abdominal area. An abdominal CT revealed a spontaneous retroperitoneal hematoma due to bleeding of an intraparenchymal branch of the left renal artery. The patient underwent left nephrectomy in order to control the bleeding. Pathology of the kidney showed evidence of acute and chronic microangiopathy, renal artery stenosis, and renal vein thrombosis. Further work-up led to diagnosis of primary antiphospholipid syndrome. Treatment of spontaneous retroperitoneal bleeding varies from conservative in hemodynamically stable patients to invasive or even surgery in hemodynamically unstable patients. In our case, open surgery was performed due to the rapidly deteriorating patient's condition and the inability to embolize the bleeding vessel by interventional radiology. Physicians should always think of retroperitoneal bleeding in patients presenting with abdominal pain and signs of hypovolemia, especially if they have a bleeding disorder or receive anticoagulants or antiplatelets.

A rare life-threatening disease: unilateral kidney compressed by huge chronic spontaneous retroperitoneal hemorrhage

Objectives

To study an uncommon life-threatening disease, spontaneous retroperitoneal and perirenal hemorrhage.

Case descriptions

A 69-year-old male presented with pain in the left waist and back of 1 month duration. The renal abscess was suspected by magnetic resonance imaging before operation. The perirenal hematoma was cleaned by operation. In another case, the patient had a functional solitary left kidney compressed by a huge retroperitoneal mass and uropenia appeared.

Results

The first patient died of adult respiratory distress syndrome after surgery. The second patient died of cardiac insufficiency and pulmonary embolism on the second day after evacuation of retroperitoneal hematoma.

Conclusion

Conservative surgery, such as selective arterial embolization, is a reasonable approach in patients with chronic spontaneous retroperitoneal and perirenal space hemorrhage and with poor general condition. We strongly recommend drainage or interventional therapy, but not a major surgery, in patients with poor condition.