Managing Multifactorial Deep Vein Thrombosis in an Adolescent: A Complex Case Report
Article Category: Case Report
Published Online: Jul 31, 2024
Page range: 261 - 265
Received: Apr 10, 2024
Accepted: May 31, 2024
DOI: https://doi.org/10.2478/jccm-2024-0024
Keywords
© 2024 Măriuca Mănescu et al., published by Sciendo
This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.
Introduction
Although rarely diagnosed in the pediatric population, deep vein thrombosis (DVT) is experiencing a growing incidence, while continuously acquiring different nuances due to the widening range of risk factors and lifestyle changes in children and adolescents.
Case presentation
A 17-year-old female within four weeks after child delivery was admitted to our clinic due to a six-month history of pain in the left hypochondriac region. After a thorough evaluation, the presence of a benign splenic cyst was revealed, which was later surgically removed. Following the intervention, the patient developed secondary thrombocytosis and bloodstream infection which, together with pre-existing risk factors (obesity, compressive effect of a large cyst, the postpartum period, the presence of a central venous catheter, recent surgery, and post-operative mobilization difficulties) led to the occurrence of extensive DVT, despite anticoagulant prophylaxis and therapy with low-molecular-weight heparin.
Conclusions
DVT raises many challenges for the pediatrician, requiring a personalized approach. Although rare, pediatric patients with multiple concomitant high-risk factors should benefit from interdisciplinary care as DVT may not respond to standard therapy in such cases and rapidly become critical. Continual efforts to better understand and treat this condition will contribute to improved outcomes for pediatric patients affected by DVT.