title: Warfarin Anticoagulation and Spontaneous Pectoral Haematomas.
abstract: Warfarin is the oldest and most commonly used anticoagulant in the outpatient setting. Major bleeding events remain as the most life threatening complication of this medication. Bleeding into enclosed structures and body cavities can be fatal in acute scenarios or cause continuous exsanguination if left unnoticed. Pectoral haematomas are an unusual presentation of bleeding diathesis, and are also seldom reported in the literature. We present three cases of patients with development of spontaneous pectoral haematoma during therapy with warfarin alone or with heparin bridging in the treatment of atrial fibrillation and thromboembolism.
authors.affiliation: Hofstra Northwell School of Medicine, Department of Cardiology, North Shore University Hospital, NY, USA.
authors.forename: Ji Can
authors.initials: JC
authors.lastname: Yang
authors.affiliation: Hofstra Northwell School of Medicine, Department of Cardiology, North Shore University Hospital, NY, USA; Department of Cardiology, NuHealth, Nassau University Medical Center, NY, USA. Electronic address: amakaryu@numc.edu.
authors.forename: Amgad N
authors.initials: AN
authors.lastname: Makaryus
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000925:Anticoagulants / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects*; D001281:Atrial Fibrillation / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000473:pathology; D005260:Female; D006406:Hematoma / Q000139:chemically induced* / Q000473:pathology; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D013923:Thromboembolism / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000473:pathology; D014859:Warfarin / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects*
chemical_list: D000925:Anticoagulants; D014859:Warfarin
keywords: Anticoagulation; Heparin bridge; Pectoral haematoma; Warfarin