Patients with thromboembolic disorders are commonly on anticoagulants; hence, they are susceptible to bleeding episodes such as ecchymosis, gingival, subconjunctival bleeding, and rarely can have intramural hematoma of small bowel causing patient to present with intestinal obstruction. It is a rare cause of mechanical bowel obstruction requiring a nonsurgical management.

Our patient was a 55-year-old male, a known case of thromboembolism on warfarin medication, presented with abdominal pain and vomiting. Patient's laboratory reports reflected anemia and deranged coagulation profile with prothrombin time and international normalized ratio, both being elevated. Intramural hematoma of jejunum was diagnosed by abdominal contrast-enhanced computed tomography. Conservative management was done, warfarin was stopped and vitamin K was administered. Patient received fresh frozen plasma and packed cell blood.

It is important to suspect warfarin toxicity in patients on the medication who come with such presentation to avoid surgical management, which could be catastrophic due to excessive bleeding. It is important for regular monitoring of coagulation profile of such patients and to reduce prescribing other medications that can interact with warfarin. It is worth noting that novel oral anticoagulants, such as dabigatran and rivaroxaban, are associated with fewer side effects and do not require close laboratory monitoring.

Received: 29 May 2021

Accepted: 27 June 2022

Article published online:
06 November 2022

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