A Case of Idiopathic Thrombocytopenic Purpura Developing Deep Vein Thrombosis/Pulmonary Thromboembolism After Head and Neck Tumor Surgery

Deep vein thrombosis (DVT)/pulmonary thromboembolism (PTE) is a serious condition that requires prompt and appropriate diagnosis and treatment. We report a case of head and neck surgery for a tumor in a patient with idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura (ITP) who developed DVT/PTE and postoperative hemorrhage that were difficult to manage. The patient was a 60-year-old woman with ITP who was diagnosed as having desmoid-type fibromatosis in the head and neck region. Two days after the surgery, a decrease in blood oxygen level was detected and a chest CT was performed, which confirmed the onset of DVT/PTE, and we started the patient on anticoagulant therapy. Due to the use of anticoagulants, she developed recurrent postoperative hemorrhage which proved difficult to control. We stopped the anticoagulants and controlled the hemorrhage by applying a hemostatic agent and applying pressure to the wound. The DVT/PTE resolved, and the patient was discharged from the hospital on the 19th day after surgery.