Obstet Gynecol Sci.  2017 Mar;60(2):223-226. 10.5468/ogs.2017.60.2.223.

Lower limb compartment syndrome by reperfusion injury after treatment of arterial thrombosis post-laparoscopic radical hysterectomy and pelvic lymph node dissection for cervical cancer

Affiliations
  • 1Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Chungnam National University Hospital, Daejeon, Korea. bell4184@cnuh.co.kr
  • 2Department of Surgery, Yeungnam University Medical Center, Daegu, Korea.

Abstract

Compartment syndrome is a clinical condition associated with decreased blood circulation that can lead to swelling of tissue in limited space. Several factors including lithotomy position, prolonged surgery, intermittent pneumatic compressor, and reperfusion after treatment of arterial thrombosis may contribute to compartment syndrome. However, compartment syndrome rarely occurs after gynecologic surgery. In this case, the patient was diagnosed as compartment syndrome due to reperfusion injury after treatment of arterial thrombosis, which occurred after laparoscopic radical hysterectomy and pelvic lymph node dissection for cervical cancer. Despite its rarity, prevention and identifying the risk factors of complication should be performed perioperatively; furthermore, gynecologist should be aware of the possibility of complications.

Keyword

Compartment syndromes; Reperfusion syndromes; Uterine cervical neoplasms

MeSH Terms

Blood Circulation
Compartment Syndromes*
Female
Gynecologic Surgical Procedures
Humans
Hysterectomy*
Lower Extremity*
Lymph Node Excision*
Lymph Nodes*
Reperfusion Injury*
Reperfusion*
Risk Factors
Thrombosis*
Uterine Cervical Neoplasms*

Figure

  • Fig. 1 (A) Computed tomography angiography on operation day. Computed tomography showed low attenuation in left calf muscle (arrow). (B) Computed tomography venography on operation day. Venography showed no evidence of deep vein thrombosis. (C) Computed tomography angiography on postoperative day 1. Computed tomography angiography indicated a defect in the blood flow in the left external iliac artery (arrow).


Reference

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