Cirrhosis-related coagulopathy resulting in disseminated intravascular coagulation and spontaneous orbital hemorrhages

Orbit. 2014 Oct;33(5):372-4. doi: 10.3109/01676830.2013.871298. Epub 2014 May 19.

Abstract

A 33-year-old patient presented to our Emergency Department (ED) with left-sided eyelid ecchymoses and edema. A CT scan of the orbits demonstrated a left retrobulbar hemorrhage, prompting an ophthalmology consultation. Upon examination, the patient reported worsening eye pain and decreasing vision in the left eye. Despite aggressive management with superior and inferior lateral canthotomy/cantholysis with placement of an orbital drain, visual loss occurred, and the patient ultimately expired from her systemic condition. Coagulopathy from liver disease resulting in systemic hemorrhage is commonly seen. Orbital hemorrhage in this setting requires emergent diagnosis and management to prevent irreversible compressive optic neuropathy.

Keywords: Cirrhosis; retrobulbar hemorrhage; spontaneous orbital hemorrhage.

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Blindness / etiology
  • Disseminated Intravascular Coagulation / diagnosis
  • Disseminated Intravascular Coagulation / etiology*
  • Ecchymosis / etiology
  • Edema / etiology
  • Eyelid Diseases / etiology
  • Fatal Outcome
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Liver Cirrhosis / complications*
  • Retrobulbar Hemorrhage / diagnosis
  • Retrobulbar Hemorrhage / etiology*
  • Retrobulbar Hemorrhage / surgery
  • Tomography, X-Ray Computed
  • Visual Acuity