Lumbar Plexopathy Caused by Retroperitoneal Hemorrhage after Coronary Angiography through the Femoral Approach

Case Report

J Korean Assoc EMG Electrodiagn Med 2015;17(2):81-85.
Published online December 31, 2015.

Received: 4 August 2015 • Revised: 15 September 2015 • Accepted: 16 September 2015

Abstract

Coronary angiography through the femoral approach is a common diagnostic procedure of myocardial infarction or angina, but it rarely causes a retroperitoneal hemorrhage, which can induce a lumbar plexopathy. We experienced a case of a 69-year-old man with left lumbar plexus injury, caused by ipsilateral retroperitoneal hemorrhage after receiving coronary angiography through left femoral approach. Abdominal computed tomography showed massive hemorrhage in left retroperitoneal space including psoas muscle. Although the findings of nerve conduction study at 6th day after onset were suspicious of left femoral neuropathy, those of follow-up electrodiagnostic study including needle electromyography at 56th day after onset were suggestive of left lumbar plexopathy. Therefore, in the case of retroperitoneal hemorrhage, comprehensive electrodiagnostic evaluation is initially required for accurate confirmation of lumbar plexopathy.

Key Words: lumbosacral plexus, retroperitoneal space, hemorrhage