Atypical Presentation of Inferior Vena Cava Thrombosis Induced by Recreational Cliff Diving Trauma

TL;DR

A 19-year-old man developed a rare blood clot in his inferior vena cava after cliff diving trauma, the first reported case linked to sports-related injury.

Contribution

This is the first documented case of inferior vena cava thrombosis caused by sport-induced trauma from cliff diving.

Findings

Inferior vena cava thrombosis occurred due to retroperitoneal hematoma from cliff diving trauma.

The case highlights the potential for sport-related shearing forces to cause IVCT.

Blunt trauma to the retroperitoneal IVC can trigger Virchow's triad components, leading to thrombosis.

Abstract

Inferior vena cava thrombosis (IVCT) is often underdiagnosed as it is not typically considered a primary diagnosis. Etiologies of IVCT can be broadly categorized into congenital and acquired causes, with the latter being more prevalent. Among acquired causes, blunt trauma, though uncommon due to the retroperitoneal location and elasticity of the inferior vena cava (IVC), can lead to thrombosis, particularly when involving the retrohepatic or intrapericardial segments. The liver's size and intraperitoneal position make it susceptible to deceleration injuries that may shear the IVC. A retroperitoneal hematoma can lead to IVCT through a combination of venous stasis, direct endothelial injury, and trauma-induced coagulopathy, the classic components of Virchow's triad.

We report a rare case of IVCT secondary to retroperitoneal hematoma caused by blunt trauma sustained during cliff diving in a previously healthy 19-year-old male. A comprehensive review of PubMed, Google Scholar, and Medline suggests this is the first reported instance of IVCT attributed to sport-induced shearing forces.

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