Pulmonary Embolism due to Inferior Vena Cava Compression by a Retroperitoneal Hematoma after Endovascular Repair of a Ruptured Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm

Abstract

We report a case of a patient with a residual hematoma compressing the inferior vena cava after endovascular aneurysm repair (EVAR), which led to a pulmonary embolism (PE). A 65-year-old man underwent emergent EVAR for a ruptured aortic aneurysm in the right retroperitoneal region. He developed sudden chest pain at midnight of the fifth day after EVAR, and computed tomography demonstrated a massive PE. He subsequently went into cardiopulmonary arrest. This case suggested that abdominal complications due to a residual hematoma, including deep vein thrombosis and PE, should be considered in addition to compartment syndrome.