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Zorluk: ZorSurgical and Procedural Interventions

A 5555-year-old man is evaluated in the neurointensive care unit for right lower extremity swelling. Five days ago, he was admitted for a spontaneous subarachnoid hemorrhage. His past medical history is significant for a mechanical aortic valve replacement performed three years ago, for which he takes daily warfarin. Upon admission, his international normalized ratio (INR) was 3.23.2, and his coagulopathy was appropriately reversed with four-factor prothrombin complex concentrate and intravenous vitamin K. A follow-up non-contrast computed tomography scan of the head obtained yesterday showed a stable hemorrhage with no expansion.

Today, physical examination reveals new-onset, non-pitting edema and tenderness of the right calf and thigh. Venous duplex ultrasonography of the right lower extremity demonstrates a non-compressible thrombus extending from the popliteal vein into the right superficial femoral vein. Vital signs are temperature 37.2∘C37.2^\circ\text{C} (99.0∘F99.0^\circ\text{F}), blood pressure 140/85140/85 mm Hg, heart rate 8888/min, and respiratory rate 1616/min. Oxygen saturation is 98%98\% on room air.

Which of the following is the most appropriate next step in management?

  1. Placement of an inferior vena cava filterCevap
  2. B
    Initiation of a continuous unfractionated heparin infusion
  3. C
    Resumption of oral warfarin therapy
  4. D
    Computed tomography angiography of the chest
  5. E
    Measurement of serum D-dimer concentration

Cevap

Placement of an inferior vena cava filter
The correct answer is placement of an inferior vena cava filter. This patient has a confirmed acute proximal deep vein thrombosis (DVT) in the setting of a recent (5 days ago) spontaneous subarachnoid hemorrhage. The standard of care for an acute DVT is therapeutic anticoagulation (e.g., continuous heparin infusion or a direct oral anticoagulant). However, a recent intracranial hemorrhage represents an absolute contraindication to systemic anticoagulation due to the prohibitively high risk of fatal hemorrhagic expansion. When therapeutic anticoagulation is absolutely contraindicated in a patient with an acute proximal VTE, the standard procedural intervention is the placement of a retrievable inferior vena cava (IVC) filter to prevent a life-threatening pulmonary embolism.

Adım Adım Çözüm

1
Identify the patient's new acute diagnosis.
The patient has developed an acute proximal deep vein thrombosis (DVT) in the right lower extremity.
Indicated by new unilateral leg swelling and confirmed by the presence of a non-compressible thrombus on venous duplex ultrasonography.
2
Assess the patient for indications and contraindications to standard venous thromboembolism (VTE) therapy.
Therapeutic anticoagulation is standard for DVT, but this patient has an absolute contraindication.
The patient suffered a subarachnoid hemorrhage only 5 days ago. Administering systemic anticoagulation carries a catastrophic risk of re-bleeding or hemorrhagic expansion.
3
Determine the appropriate procedural intervention when standard medical therapy is contraindicated.
Placement of an inferior vena cava (IVC) filter is the most appropriate next step.
An IVC filter mechanically prevents large thrombi from the lower extremities from traveling to the lungs, effectively preventing a fatal pulmonary embolism while the patient cannot be safely anticoagulated.

Anahtar Kavram

The primary indication for the placement of an inferior vena cava (IVC) filter is the presence of an acute proximal deep vein thrombosis or pulmonary embolism in a patient who has an absolute contraindication to therapeutic anticoagulation (e.g., recent intracranial hemorrhage).
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