Conservative management of a large oesophageal haematoma as a complication of systemic thrombolysis

Heart Lung Circ. 2004 Dec;13(4):423-5. doi: 10.1016/j.hlc.2004.08.009.

Abstract

An acute coronary syndrome patient was treated with tissue plasminogen activator to produce thrombolysis. Six hours post-lysis, haematemesis occurred. Computed tomography (CT) revealed a large haematoma around the lower oesophagus and endoscopy showed a tear in the lower end of the oesophagus. This case represents an unusual complication of anticoagulation and thrombolysis associated with the management of acute coronary syndrome. Conservative management was successful.