Publication Date
1-1-2022
Journal
The Texas Heart Institute Journal
DOI
10.14503/THIJ-20-7400
PMID
35099561
Publication Date(s)
January 2022
Language
English
PMCID
PMC8884283
PubMedCentral® Posted Date
1-31-2022
PubMedCentral® Full Text Version
Post-Print
Published Open-Access
yes
Keywords
Acute disease, femoral vein/surgery, limb salvage, lower extremity/blood supply, thrombectomy/methods, time factors, treatment outcome, venous thrombosis/surgery, venous thromboembolism/complications
Copyright
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-No Derivative Works 4.0 International License.
Abstract
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.