title: Spontaneous retroperitoneal hematoma associated with iliac vein rupture.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Spontaneous retroperitoneal hematoma (SRH) associated with iliac vein rupture is a rare but life-threatening emergency with high operative mortality. This study summarizes our experience in providing diagnostic and therapeutic management for this rare clinical entity.
  
  
  METHODS
  Between May 2002 and May 2009, nine patients were admitted to our hospital for SRH and acute deep venous thrombosis (DVT). Medical data for demographics, clinical presentation, auxiliary examinations, treatment modalities, outcomes, and follow-up were retrospectively analyzed.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Nine patients (8 women, 1 man) were enrolled in this study. All were aged>45 years (range, 46-70 years). The common clinical manifestations were sudden onset of left lower abdominal or lumbar pain, swelling of the left lower extremity, anemia, and hypotension. Most patients were diagnosed by duplex ultrasound imaging and computed tomography scan. Three patients were treated conservatively, and six underwent surgical or combined treatments, comprising 2 repairs of iliac vein, 1 iliac vein ligation and Palma-Dale bypass graft, 1 pelvic vein ligation, 1 removal of hematoma, and 1 repair of iliac vein, thrombectomy, and endovascular stent placement. The iliac vein ruptured in five patients. May-Thurner syndrome was found in three patients. One patient died after surgery (operative mortality, 16.7%). Postoperative morbidity was 50%. Mean volume of perioperative blood transfusion was 900±640 mL (range, 0-2000 mL). Mean lengths of stay were 2.7±1.4 days (range, 2-5 days) in the intensive care unit and 16.9±2.4 days (range, 14-21 days) in the hospital. Eight patients were postoperatively treated with 6 months of warfarin. Mean follow-up was 30.5±15.0 months (range, 6-50 months). The occurrence rate of chronic venous insufficiency was 87.5% during follow-up.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  SRH with concomitant DVT, especially in women aged >45, should be considered in patients with sudden lower abdominal or lumbar pain, leg swelling, anemia, and shock. Spontaneous iliac vein rupture and the presence of May-Thurner syndrome should be considered in these patients. Surgical interventions were associated with high mortality and morbidity. In our experience, conservative therapy was safer than open surgical procedures.
authors.affiliation: Department of Vascular Surgery, Qilu Hospital of Shandong University, Jinan, People's Republic of China.
authors.forename: Jianjun
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Jiang
authors.forename: Xiangjiu
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Ding
authors.forename: Guangyong
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.forename: Qingbo
authors.initials: Q
authors.lastname: Su
authors.forename: Zhanmin
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: Sanyuan
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Hu
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000925:Anticoagulants / Q000627:therapeutic use; D001803:Blood Transfusion; D002681:China; D057510:Endovascular Procedures; D005260:Female; D006406:Hematoma / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology* / Q000401:mortality / Q000628:therapy; D006801:Humans; D007084:Iliac Vein / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000601:surgery; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010690:Phlebography; D012187:Retroperitoneal Space; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012422:Rupture, Spontaneous; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D018616:Ultrasonography, Doppler, Duplex; D014656:Vascular Surgical Procedures; D016306:Vena Cava Filters; D020246:Venous Thrombosis / Q000150:complications* / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000401:mortality / Q000628:therapy
chemical_list: D000925:Anticoagulants