rss
Postgrad Med J 1979;55:18-21 doi:10.1136/pgmj.55.639.18
  • Research Article

Fatal retroperitoneal haemorrhage complicating anticoagulant therapy.

  1. G. D. Lowe,
  2. J. H. McKillop,
  3. A. G. Prentice

      Abstract

      Eight cases are reported of extensive retroperitoneal haemorrhage in patients receiving anticoagulant therapy who subsequently died and underwent postmortem examination. No patient had an obvious source of bleeding, and in 5 cases no other cause for death was apparent. Three patients had had vascular surgical procedures: the other 5 were given anticoagulants for suspected venous thrombo-embolism. Six cases presented as unexpected circulatory collapse with rapid demise. Four patients had in addition gastro-intestinal bleeding of varying degree, with no obvious source. This acute massive type of retroperitoneal bleeding contrasts with the commoner presentations of pain, swelling, bruising and compression neuropathy: a high index of suspicion and urgent treatment are required if mortality is to be reduced.

      This Article

      1. Abstract
      2. PDF

      Responses

      1. Submit a response
      2. No responses published

      Register for free content

      The full back archive is now available for all BMJ Journals. Institutional subscribers may access the entire archive as part of their subscription. Personal subscribers will also have access to all content when logged in. Non-subscribers who register have free access to all articles published before 2006 right back to volume 1 issue 1. Register here to access the free archive of all BMJ Journals.

      Don't forget to sign up for content alerts so you keep up to date with all the articles as they are published.