ABSTRACT
We describe herein the case of a 3-day-old male neonate with umbilical arteriovenous
malformation showing umbilical hemorrhage. The patient was born after 38 weeks and
3 days of gestation with a birth weight of 2784 g. Sudden massive umbilical hemorrhage
occurred on day 3. Cardiopulmonary arrest developed, but the patient was successfully
rescued by immediate cardiopulmonary resuscitation. An umbilical venous catheter was
inserted for blood access. However, umbilical hemorrhage continued and hemostasis
was difficult. Congenital bleeding disorders were excluded based on laboratory findings.
Ultrasonography on day 15 revealed a mass with rich blood supply directly under the
umbilicus. Umbilical arteriovenous malformation was suspected from abdominal contrast-enhanced
computed tomography on day 17. Excision of the arteriovenous malformation was performed
on day 29. The mass was connected to three arteries including the umbilical arteries,
with the umbilical vein flowing out from the mass. Umbilical arteriovenous malformation
was diagnosed from evidence during the operation and pathological findings. Umbilical
arteriovenous malformations are rare and often discovered by heart failure symptoms,
but rare cases present with umbilical bleeding, as in this report. Umbilical arteriovenous
malformation must be taken into consideration as along with congenital bleeding disorders
when massive umbilical hemorrhage is identified.
KEYWORDS
Umbilical hemorrhage - arteriovenous malformation - neonate - ultrasonography
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Dr. Mari Shibata
Division of Neonatal Intensive Care, Center of Maternal Fetal Medicine, Nara Medical
University Hospital
840 Shijo-cho Kashihara, Kashihara-shi, Nara 634-8522, Japan
Email: mari_shibacchi@ybb.ne.jp