Recurrent, life-threatening PE in the setting of popliteal vein aneurysm in pregnancy: a case report.

BACKGROUND: Popliteal vein aneurysms (PVA) are a rare clinical entity with unknown etiology that pose a significant risk for venous thromboembolic events (VTE). The current literature supports anticoagulation and operative management. There are few case reports of PVA in pregnancy. We present a unique case of a pregnant patient with recurrent pulmonary embolism (PE) in the setting of PVA with intra-aneurysmal thrombosis who ultimately underwent surgical excision. CASE PRESENTATION: A previously healthy 34-year-old G2P1 at 30 weeks gestation presented to the emergency department with shortness of breath and chest pain. She was diagnosed with PE and subsequently required intensive care unit (ICU) admission and thrombolysis for a massive PE. While on a therapeutic dose of tinzaparin she had recurrence of PE in the post-partum period. She was treated with supratherapeutic tinzaparin and subsequently transitioned to warfarin. She was found to have a PVA and ultimately underwent successful PVA ligation. She remains on anticoagulation for secondary prevention of VTE. CONCLUSIONS: PVA are a rare but potentially fatal source of VTE. Patients most commonly present with symptoms of PE. The risk of VTE is elevated in the pro-thrombotic states of pregnancy and the post-partum period due to both physiologic and anatomical changes. The recommended management of PVA with PE is anticoagulation and surgical resection of the aneurysm, however this can be complicated in the setting of pregnancy. We demonstrated that pregnant patients with PVA can be temporized with medical management to avoid surgical intervention during pregnancy, but require close symptom monitoring and serial imaging to reassess the PVA, with high index of suspicion for recurrent VTE. Ultimately, patients with PVA and PE should undergo surgical resection to reduce the risk of recurrence and long-term complications. The ideal duration of post-operative anticoagulation remains unclear, and should likely be decided on based on risks, benefits, values, and shared decision making with the patient and their care provider.

REBOA utility.

Resuscitative endovascular balloon occlusion of the aorta is a tool that can play an important role for the modern-day Trauma Surgeon. Although the concept of aortic balloon occlusion is not new, its use as a rescue device for managing life-threatening traumatic hemorrhage has increased dramatically. The ideal role for resuscitative endovascular balloon occlusion of the aorta continues to evolve. In situations of noncompressible truncal hemorrhage, its use can temporize bleeding while other means of hemorrhage control, including those discussed elsewhere in this supplement, are used. However, it is a tool with potentially significant complications and consequences. Studies examining resuscitative endovascular balloon occlusion of the aorta are ongoing as, despite its ever-increasing adoption, quality evidence to support its clinical use is lacking.

Methods for Early Control of Abdominal Hemorrhage: An Assessment of Potential Benefit.

BACKGROUND: Noncompressible truncal hemorrhage (NCTH) after injury is associated with a mortality increase that is unchanged during the past 20 years. Current treatment consists of rapid transport and emergent intervention. Three early hemorrhage control interventions that may improve survival are placement of a resuscitative endovascular balloon occlusion of the aorta (REBOA), injection of intracavitary self-expanding foam, and application of the Abdominal Aortic Junctional Tourniquet (AAJT™). The goal of this work was to ascertain whether patients with uncontrolled abdominal or pelvic hemorrhage might benefit by the early or prehospital use of one of these interventions. METHODS: This was a single-center retrospective study of patients who received a trauma laparotomy from 2013 to 2015. Operative reports were reviewed. The probable benefit of each hemorrhage control method was evaluated for each patient based on the location(s) of injury and the severity of their physiologic derangement. The potential scope of applicability of each control method was then directly compared. RESULTS: During the study period, 9,608 patients were admitted; 402 patients required an emergent trauma laparotomy. REBOA was potentially beneficial for hemorrhage control in 384 (96%) of patients, foam in 351 (87%), and AAJT in 35 (9%). There was no statistically significant difference in the potential scope of applicability between REBOA and foam (ρ = .022). There was a significant difference between REBOA and AAJT (ρ < .001) and foam and AAJT™ (ρ < .001). The external surface location of signs of injury did not correlate with the internal injury location identified during laparotomy. CONCLUSION: Early use of REBOA and foam potentially benefits the largest number of patients with abdominal or pelvic bleeding and may have widespread applicability for patients in the preoperative, and potentially the prehospital, setting. AAJT may be useful with specific types of injury. The site of bleeding must be considered before the use of any of these tools.

Balanced Resuscitation in Trauma Management.

Over the past decade substantial knowledge has been gained in understanding both the coagulopathy of trauma and the complications associated with aggressive crystalloid-based resuscitation. Balanced resuscitation, which includes permissive hypotension, limiting crystalloid use, and the transfusion of blood products in ratios similar to whole blood, has changed the previous standard of care. Prompt initiation of massive transfusion and the protocolled use of 1:1:1 product ratios have improved the morbidity and mortality of patients with trauma in hemorrhagic shock. Balanced resuscitation minimizes the impact of trauma-induced coagulopathy, limits blood product waste, and reduces the complications that occur with aggressive crystalloid resuscitation.

Prediction of Massive Transfusion in Trauma.

Hemorrhage is the leading cause of preventable death in trauma. Damage control resuscitation relies on permissive hypotension, minimizing crystalloid use, and early implementation of massive transfusion protocols with established blood component ratios. These protocols improve the survival of the severely injured patient. Trauma physicians must quickly and accurately predict when a massive transfusion protocol should be activated. Several validated transfusion scores have been developed for this purpose. Many of these scores are useful for resuscitation research. One option, the ABC score, is an accurate, validated, and clinically useful score that is simple to calculate and rapidly obtained.