A Case of Phlegmasia Cerulea Dolens as a Complication Caused by Placement of Inferior Vena Cava Filter.

Cho, Young Sin; Kim, Jong Hwa; Lee, Ho Sung; Choi, Jae Sung; Na, Ju Ock; Seo, Ki Hyun; Kim, Yong Hoon

doi:2008.65.3.225

Tuberc Respir Dis > Volume 65(3); 2008 > Article

Case Report

Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases 2008;65(3):225-229.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.4046/trd.2008.65.3.225 Published online September 1, 2008.

A Case of Phlegmasia Cerulea Dolens as a Complication Caused by Placement of Inferior Vena Cava Filter.

Young Sin Cho, Jong Hwa Kim, Ho Sung Lee, Jae Sung Choi, Ju Ock Na, Ki Hyun Seo, Yong Hoon Kim

Department of Internal Medicine, Cheonan Hospital, Soonchunhyang University College of Medicine, Cheonan, Korea. juokna@hanmail.net

Abstract

Inferior vena cava filters are increasingly being used as an alternative to anticoagulation therapy for the prevention of pulmonary embolism. However, using an Inferior vena cava filter may result in clinically significant complications. Phlegmasia cerulea dolens is a rare disease that presents with acute complete venous occlusion due to extensive thrombosis in the lower extremity. It is characterized by intense pain, edema, decreased pulses and a cyanotic extremity. We report here on a case of phlegmasia cerulea dolens that was accompanied with disseminated intravascular coagulation (DIC) as a complication of the placement of an inferior vena cava filter in a patient who had been previously diagnosed with pulmonary embolism, and the patient had recently developed a cerebral hemorrhage due to a traffic accident.

Key Words: Phlegmasia cerulea dolens, Inferior vena cava filter, Pulmonary embolism