Upper airway obstruction complicating warfarin therapy--with a note on reversal of warfarin toxicity.
In a patient taking oral anticoagulants, the complaint of pharyngeal pain, a change in the voice, dysphagia, respiratory difficulty, or a neck mass should prompt a thorough investigation to rule out hemorrhage into the upper airway. This case report describes an anticoagulated patient who experienced precipitous hemorrhagic upper airway obstruction. She was successfully treated with tracheostomy, plasma infusion, and parenteral vitamin K1.
D000402:Airway Obstruction / Q000209:etiology* / Q000601:surgery; D004630:Emergencies; D005260:Female; D006406:Hematoma / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000188:drug therapy; D006470:Hemorrhage / Q000139:chemically induced* / Q000150:complications; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D012140:Respiratory Tract Diseases / Q000139:chemically induced* / Q000150:complications; D013924:Thrombophlebitis / Q000188:drug therapy; D014140:Tracheotomy; D010837:Vitamin K 1 / Q000627:therapeutic use; D014859:Warfarin / Q000009:adverse effects*
D014859:Warfarin; D010837:Vitamin K 1