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Vena cava inferior thrombosis detected by venous hum: a case report

Robert Colebunders1, Britt Colebunders

  • 1Department of clinical sciences, Institute of Tropical Medicine, Nationalestraat 155, 2000 Antwerp, Belgium. bcoleb@itg.be.

Journal of Medical Case Reports
|August 24, 2007
PubMed

Insights

A venous hum heard during abdominal auscultation led to the diagnosis of inferior vena cava thrombosis in a patient. This finding highlights an unusual diagnostic clue for this serious vascular condition.

Area of Science:

  • Vascular Medicine
  • Diagnostic Radiology

Background:

  • Inferior vena cava (IVC) thrombosis is a serious condition often diagnosed through imaging.
  • Abdominal auscultation is a routine part of physical examination but rarely points to specific thrombotic events.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To report a case where a venous hum during abdominal auscultation was the initial diagnostic clue for IVC thrombosis.
  • To highlight the potential diagnostic utility of physical examination findings in vascular emergencies.

Main Methods:

  • Case report detailing a patient's clinical presentation and diagnostic workup.
  • Focused on the physical examination finding of an abdominal venous hum.

Main Results:

  • An abdominal venous hum was detected during physical examination.
  • Subsequent diagnostic imaging confirmed the presence of inferior vena cava thrombosis.

Conclusions:

  • A venous hum can be an unexpected but valuable sign of inferior vena cava thrombosis.
  • This case underscores the importance of thorough physical examination in diagnosing vascular pathologies.

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