[Intraabdominal and intramural hemorrhage due to warfarin therapy].
BACKGROUND
The study investigated clinical, radiological findings and treatment methods used in patients who developed intraabdominal hemorrhage due to chronic warfarin use.


METHODS
Eight patients receiving warfarin for cardiac valve replacement, pulmonary thromboemboli, and atrial fibrillation were admitted to our hospital. The patients had abdominal pain, nausea, and vomiting although there was no hematemesis and melena.


RESULTS
Abdominal ultrasonography and computerized tomography identified the individuals' problems as intraabdominal hemorrhage (n=2), intestinal intramural and intraabdominal hemorrhage (n=2), bleeding into the sheath of the rectus abdominus muscle (n=1), subcapsular splenic hemorrhage (n=1), and bleeding due to ruptured ovarian cyst (n=2).


CONCLUSIONS
Clinicians must be alert for intraabdominal bleeding in patients who are prescribed warfarin treatment. Abdominal ultrasonography and computerized tomography should be used to investigate all such cases of suspected hemorrhage. Blood and plasma replacements are first line of supportive treatment and surgery should be avoided if possible.
Tarim
Akin
A
Baskent Universitesi Genel Cerrahi Anabilim Dali, Turkey. eatarim@hotmail.com
Yildirim
Sedat
S
Nursal
Tarik Zafer
TZ
Noyan
Turgut
T
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000925:Anticoagulants / Q000009:adverse effects*; D001281:Atrial Fibrillation / Q000150:complications; D005260:Female; D006471:Gastrointestinal Hemorrhage / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000453:epidemiology*; D019918:Heart Valve Prosthesis Implantation; D006406:Hematoma / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000453:epidemiology; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011655:Pulmonary Embolism / Q000150:complications; D013923:Thromboembolism / Q000517:prevention & control*; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed; D014421:Turkey / Q000453:epidemiology; D014463:Ultrasonography; D014859:Warfarin / Q000009:adverse effects*
D000925:Anticoagulants; D014859:Warfarin