Successful treatment of fulminant postoperative bleeding due to acquired haemophilia

Abstract

Acquired haemophilia is a rare but life-threatening phenomenon in patients who have undergone surgical treatment. We describe a patient with a history of pancreatic cancer and a conventional pancreaticoduodenectomy, who underwent elective resection of an enterocutaneous fistula, complicated by fulminant haemorrhagic shock, caused by acquired haemophilia A. Eventually, the bleeding was controlled by a combination of aggressive haemostatic and immunosuppressive therapy. Prompt diagnosis of acquired haemophilia is crucial to allow early and appropriate haemostatic treatment and reduce the period of increased bleeding risk by eradicating the inhibitor with immunosuppressive therapy.