Surgical Intervention for Phlegmasia Cerulea Dolens in a 61-Year-Old Cancer Patient.

Publisher: published in the Cardiovascular Surgical Research Laboratories, Texas Heart Institute Country of Publication: United States NLM ID: 8214622 Publication Model: Print Cited Medium: Internet ISSN: 1526-6702 (Electronic) Linking ISSN: 07302347 NLM ISO Abbreviation: Tex Heart Inst J Subsets: MEDLINE

Original Publication: Houston, TX : published in the Cardiovascular Surgical Research Laboratories, Texas Heart Institute, c1982-

Neoplasms* ; Venous Thrombosis*/diagnosis ; Venous Thrombosis*/etiology ; Venous Thrombosis*/surgery; Female ; Humans ; Leg/blood supply ; Middle Aged ; Thrombectomy/methods ; Vascular Surgical Procedures

Phlegmasia cerulea dolens, a rare and potentially fatal complication of acute deep vein thrombosis, is characterized by substantial edema, intense pain, and cyanosis. Phlegmasia cerulea dolens may compromise limb perfusion and lead to acute ischemia, gangrene, amputation, and death. We present the case of a 61-year-old woman with a history of breast cancer who had signs and symptoms of phlegmasia cerulea dolens in her left leg. She was treated promptly with open surgical thrombectomy and sequential distal compression with use of an Esmarch bandage to ensure complete thrombus extraction. These techniques restored venous flow and saved her leg. Open surgical thrombectomy should be considered in the presence of limb-threatening acute deep vein thrombosis presenting as phlegmasia cerulea dolens.
(© 2022 by the Texas Heart® Institute, Houston.)

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Keywords: Acute disease; femoral vein/surgery; limb salvage; lower extremity/blood supply; thrombectomy/methods; time factors; treatment outcome; venous thromboembolism/complications; venous thrombosis/surgery

Date Created: 20220131 Date Completed: 20220425 Latest Revision: 20220425

20250114

PMC8884283

10.14503/THIJ-20-7400

35099561