Management of phlegmasia cerulea dolens caused by a giant leiomyoma

Abstract

In the present report, we describe the case of a young woman with a large uterine leiomyoma causing phlegmasia cerulea dolens with thrombosis of the left common and left external iliac veins. She underwent tissue plasminogen activator catheter thrombolysis and mechanical thrombectomy to temporize the condition until she could be evaluated by a gynecologic oncologist to remove the cause of the venous obstruction. Before the hysterectomy, a suprarenal inferior vena cava filter was placed. However, <12 hours after the hysterectomy, she developed recurrent thrombosis involving the left common and external iliac veins. She underwent repeat mechanical thrombectomy with wall stent placement in the left common iliac vein with resolution of her symptoms.

Keywords

• Phlegmasia cerulea dolens
• Thrombectomy
• Uterine leiomyoma