Diagnosis of von Willebrand disease during the management of deep neck abscess: A case report

Abstract

Von Willebrand disease (VWD), which causes mucocutaneous haemorrhage, is the most common heritable bleeding disorder. However, a lack of awareness regarding VWD results in underdiagnosis and nontreatment. This study describes the first reported case of VWD diagnosed during the treatment of a deep neck abscess (DNA). A 55-year-old man underwent emergency surgery for DNA, which is a life-threatening disease, with subsequent difficulty in haemostasis both intraoperatively and postoperatively. Hence, coagulopathy was suspected, and VWD was eventually diagnosed. Administration of blood products helped control bleeding. Coagulopathies, including VWD, should be suspected in patients with refractory bleeding. This is especially important for otolaryngologists, who often treat mucocutaneous bleeding, such as epistaxis and oral mucosal bleeding.

Keywords

• von Willebrand disease
• von Willebrand factor
• coagulopathy
• deep neck abscess