Upper Airway Obstruction as a Complication of Oral Anticoagulation Therapy
- 1 October 1979
- journal article
- research article
- Published by American Medical Association (AMA) in Archives of Internal Medicine
- Vol. 139 (10), 1151-1153
- https://doi.org/10.1001/archinte.1979.03630470061019
Abstract
While taking orally administered anticoagulants, three patients had hemorrhages into their retropharyngeal and submandibular spaces, suffering eventual acute airway obstruction. One of the patients died. Despite the life-threatening nature of this complication of anticoagulant therapy, the diagnosis was obscure and initially veiled in complaints of sore throat or hoarseness, suggesting infection. Thorough investigation of such complaints is necessary in patients receiving anticoagulation therapy. If a hematoma is discovered, the patient should be admitted to the hospital for close observation and prompt reversal of anticoagulation with plasma. Intubation or tracheostomy also may be required. (Arch Intern Med 139:1151-1153, 1979)This publication has 5 references indexed in Scilit:
- Upper Airway Obstruction Induced by Warfarin SodiumArchives of Otolaryngology (1960), 1976
- Retropharyngeal Infection in AdultsArchives of Internal Medicine, 1974
- Salivary gland hemorrhage—An unusual complication of Coumadin anticoagulationAmerican Heart Journal, 1970
- Retropharyngeal Hemorrhage with Respiratory Obstruction Following ArteriographyJournal of Neurosurgery, 1965
- The Lateral Roentgenogram of the NeckRadiology, 1958