Pseudo-Ludwig's Phenomenon: A Rare Clinical Manifestation in Liver Cirrhosis

Pseudo-Ludwig's phenomenon, an exceedingly rare clinical entity, is characterized by non-infectious upper airway obstruction resulting from spontaneous hematoma in the sublingual space. The condition is often described in patients on anticoagulants with grossly deranged coagulation profile. We describe a case of pseudo-Ludwig's phenomenon in a cirrhotic patient with significantly deranged hemostasis profile; the first to be reported in medical literature.

[1]  M. Kamal,et al.  Spontaneous sublingual haematoma: a rare entity , 2012, BMJ Case Reports.

[2]  M. Nusrath,et al.  Massive sublingual hematoma secondary to anticoagulant therapy complicated by a traumatic denture: a case report , 2012, Journal of Medical Case Reports.

[3]  J. Kujovich Hemostatic defects in end stage liver disease. , 2005, Critical care clinics.

[4]  A. Cohen,et al.  Upper airway obstruction secondary to warfarin-induced sublingual hematoma. , 1989, Archives of otolaryngology--head & neck surgery.

[5]  T. Anderson,et al.  Noninfectious acute upper airway obstruction (pseudo-Ludwig phenomenon): report of a case. , 1987, Journal of oral and maxillofacial surgery : official journal of the American Association of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons.

[6]  M. Lepore Upper airway obstruction induced by warfarin sodium. , 1976, Archives of otolaryngology.