Eur J Trauma Emerg S
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Eur J Trauma Emerg S · Apr 2013
Risk factors and management of anticoagulant-induced intramural hematoma of the gastrointestinal tract.
Intramural intestinal hematoma is considered a rare complication of overanticoagulation in elderly patients. Nevertheless, this clinical entity is increasingly being reported in the literature, and its incidence is predicted to increase further as a result of the wide use of long-term anticoagulation in an aging population. However, data regarding the risk factors and optimal management of this unusual complication in patients on phenprocoumon/warfarin are scarce. ⋯ Intramural hematoma of the gastrointestinal tract should be suspected in any patient with abdominal pain or intestinal obstruction under anticoagulant therapy. Emergency physicians and surgeons should be aware of this rare complication, as most such cases will resolve spontaneously under conservative measures without the need for surgery.