Pulmonary Hematoma Secondary to Anticoagulant Therapy

Excerpt

Pulmonary hemorrhage has been reported as a complication of both warfarin and heparin therapy (1), but this complication is uncommon. We report a patient who presented with hemothorax and pulmonary masses owing to intrapulmonary hematomas associated with uncontrolled anticoagulation.

A 72-year-patient had been receiving warfarin since 1970 after implantation of a Starr-Edwards prosthesis for aortic stenosis. In December 1978 he presented with shortness of breath and pleuritic left chest pain of recent onset. One week before

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hospitalization he had expectorated blood-streaked sputum. He had complained of a poor appetite and weight loss during the previous month. He had a history