ePoster
Presentation Description
Institution: Royal Perth Hospital - Western Australia, Australia
Purpose
Bilateral adrenal haemorrhage is an uncommon condition that is most frequently described in individual case reports and small case series. Consequently, current understanding of its clinical presentation, investigation, management, and outcomes is derived largely from descriptive literature. This review collates published adult case-based reports to summarise reported clinical features, imaging findings, precipitating factors, management approaches, and complications associated with bilateral adrenal haemorrhage.
Methodology
A qualitative review was performed using abstracts identified from PubMed, MEDLINE, and EMBASE database searches. Inclusion was limited to adult patients, publications from the previous ten years, and reports explicitly describing bilateral adrenal haemorrhage. Case reports, small case series, and descriptive reviews were included. Data were extracted directly from abstracts and summarised narratively, without quantitative analysis.
Results
The available literature consisted of individual case reports and small case series. Reported presentations included acute abdominal pain, haemodynamic instability, and features consistent with adrenal insufficiency. Precipitating factors described across reports included severe infection or sepsis, anticoagulation, antiphospholipid syndrome, vaccine-associated thrombotic syndromes, trauma, and postoperative states. Computed tomography was the most reported imaging modality for diagnosis. Many cases were associated with acute adrenal insufficiency requiring glucocorticoid replacement. Management was primarily supportive, alongside treatment of identified precipitating conditions.
Conclusion
Review of the available case-based literature identifies recurring clinical and diagnostic features that may assist in recognition and management of bilateral adrenal haemorrhage in adult patients.
Presenters
Authors
Authors
Dr Ninan Tharakan - , Dr Sophie Fang Lin - , Dr Hari Bains -
