Phlegmasia cerulea dolens following internal hemipelvectomy: Case report and literature review

James A Butterworth; Tam T Huynh; Valerae O Lewis; Edward I Chang

doi:10.1016/j.injury.2020.02.007

Phlegmasia cerulea dolens following internal hemipelvectomy: Case report and literature review

Injury. 2020 Dec:51 Suppl 4:S68-S70. doi: 10.1016/j.injury.2020.02.007. Epub 2020 Feb 10.

Authors

James A Butterworth¹, Tam T Huynh², Valerae O Lewis³, Edward I Chang⁴

Affiliations

¹ Division of Plastic Surgery, University of Kansas, Kansas, Lawrence.
² Department of Vascular Thoracic Surgery, The University of Texas, MD Anderson Cancer Center, USA.
³ Department of Orthopedic Surgery, The University of Texas, MD Anderson Cancer Center, USA.
⁴ Department of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, The University of Texas, MD Anderson Cancer Center, USA. Electronic address: eichang@mdanderson.org.

PMID: 32093946
DOI: 10.1016/j.injury.2020.02.007

Abstract

Phlegmasia cerulea dolens (PCD) results from near complete venous thrombosis and occlusion in an extremity resulting in pain, cyanosis, and edema and potentially death. While PCD can result from a variety of mechanisms including trauma, iatrogenic instrumentation, the majority of cases occur in the setting of malignancy. PCD is often managed medically with anticoagulation. However, in certain circumstances, surgical intervention may be warranted. Here, we present a unique case of phlegmasia cerulea dolens occurring following an internal hemipelvectomy requiring emergent surgical intervention to salvage life and limb. A review of the literature regarding diagnosis and treatment is also presented.

Keywords: Acute venous thrombosis; Open thrombectomy; Phlegmasia cerulea dolens.

Publication types

Case Reports
Review

MeSH terms

Edema
Hemipelvectomy*
Humans
Venous Thrombosis*