Ruptured abdominal aortic aneurysm presenting as acute unilateral leg swelling--not all swelling below the knee is DVT.
The authors describe a patient with a previously undiagnosed abdominal aortic aneurysm who presented to the emergency department with acute unilateral leg swelling following aneurysm rupture into the vena cava. Abdominal examination raised the suspicion of intra-abdominal pathology which was confirmed with bedside ultrasound, followed by CT aorta. The patient was transferred for urgent repair and made a good recovery. Unilateral leg swelling is a common presentation to frontline clinicians and this case is a reminder that deep vein thrombosis is not the only important cause.
Emergency Department, The Royal London Hospital, London, UK.
Rhiannon
R
Talbot
Jonathon
J
Andrews
Jacqui
J
Munns
D000208:Acute Disease; D017544:Aortic Aneurysm, Abdominal / Q000150:complications* / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000601:surgery; D001019:Aortic Rupture / Q000150:complications* / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000601:surgery; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D004487:Edema / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology*; D057510:Endovascular Procedures / Q000379:methods*; D006801:Humans; D007866:Leg; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed; D020246:Venous Thrombosis / Q000175:diagnosis