Gastrointestinal Bleeding During Anticoagulant Therapy for Deep Vein Thrombosis after Simultaneous Pancreas and Kidney Transplantation

Abstract

A 46-year-old Japanese woman on dialysis for type 1 diabetes and chronic renal failure underwent simultaneous pancreas and kidney transplantation from a brain-dead donor. On postoperative day 3, ilio-femoral deep vein thrombosis on the side of pancreatic transplantation was diagnosed from swelling of the right leg, an increased D-dimer level, and imaging findings. Anticoagulant therapy was initiated to prevent proximal propagation of the thrombosis and pulmonary thromboembolism. However, gastrointestinal bleeding occurred, which was thought to be due to mucosal bleeding from the duodenal graft. Her anticoagulant therapy was adjusted and hemostasis was conducted, controlling the gastrointestinal bleeding without surgical intervention. Blood flow was maintained to both grafts and graft function was good. When gastrointestinal bleeding occurs during anticoagulant therapy for deep vein thrombosis after combined pancreas and kidney transplantation, bleeding can be controlled by adjusting anticoagulant therapy and other appropriate measures.