Intramural Haemorrhage and Haematoma as the Cause of Ileus of the Small Intestine in a Haemophiliac

• Published in: Medicinski arhiv 2015-06, Vol.69 (3), p.206-207
• Main Authors: Delibegovic, Mirela, Alispahic, Admira, Gazija, Jasmina, Mehmedovic, Zlatan, Mehmedovic, Majda
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Case Report
• ISSN: 0350-199X; 1986-5961
• DOI: 10.5455/medarh.2015.69.206-207

The most frequent sites of bleeding in patients with haemophilia are the soft tissues, the joints, the urinary tract, but much more rarely the gastrointestinal tract. The complications of intramural bleeding are acute intestinal obstruction, but also rupture of the haematoma in the lumen or the peritoneal space. We present the case of a haemophiliac patient who was admitted as an emergency due to distended abdomen, nausea, vomiting and the clinical picture of ileus. The native abdomen in a standing position presented air fluid levels with moderate distension of the accompanying bowel loops. A nasal probe was inserted and the symptoms of ileus disappeared, but after taking food by mouth, the picture of ileus returned. CT of the abdomen and pelvis was performed, which showed circular, high density thickening of the walls in places in the area of the jejunum, indicating haemorrhage, but also the formation of haematoma in the wall structure. After administering factor VIII, the symptoms of ileus ceased, and the patient recovered completely. This unusual presentation of haemophilia with bleeding in the wall of the small intestine is very rare and has only been seen in a few cases in the world. CT diagnosis defined the cause of the obstruction and saved the patient from an unnecessary surgical procedure.