title: Retropharyngeal hematoma--a rare complication of anticoagulant therapy.
abstract: Anticoagulation is routinely employed in cardiac surgery following mechanical valve replacement. Warfarin is the most common agent used for anticoagulation. Bleeding, internal or external, remains the major complication with anticoagulant therapy. The risk is known to be higher with INR levels above 4.5. We report a case of a retropharyngeal hematoma following trivial blunt trauma to a patient whose INR had shot up to 6.8 and also discuss its management.
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiothoracic Surgery, 6th Floor, East Wing, St. Thomas' Hospital, Lambeth Palace Road, London SE1 7EH, UK. vnbapat@yahoo.com
authors.forename: Vinayak Nilkanth
authors.initials: VN
authors.lastname: Bapat
authors.forename: Karen
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Brown
authors.forename: Apostolos
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Nakas
authors.forename: Fick
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Shabbo
mesh_terms: D000925:Anticoagulants / Q000009:adverse effects*; D005260:Female; D019918:Heart Valve Prosthesis Implantation; D006406:Hematoma / Q000139:chemically induced*; D006801:Humans; D019934:International Normalized Ratio; D008875:Middle Aged; D011183:Postoperative Complications; D014859:Warfarin / Q000009:adverse effects*
chemical_list: D000925:Anticoagulants; D014859:Warfarin