title: [Spontaneous hematoma of the abdominal wall: diagnostic error of abruptio placentae].
abstract: An emergency cesarean section was performed in the 38th week of pregnancy in a patient with acute abdominal pain in the left upper quadrant. The ultrasound picture was interpreted as a retroplacentar hematoma. Cardiotocography demonstrated fetal tachycardia which was interpreted as asphyxia. A diagnosis of abruptio placentae was made, but was finally ruled out when the cesarean section was performed. The intraabdominal exploration revealed a large hematoma of the rectus sheath with about 800 ml of blood. After evacuation and drainage the postoperative recovery was uneventful. Sudden rupture of a deep epigastric vessel with formation of an abdominal wall hematoma also mimics intraabdominal conditions such as appendicitis, diverticulitis, cholecystitis, tumours and visceral injuries.
authors.affiliation: Frauenklinik, Thurgauisches Kantonsspital, Münsterlingen.
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Brühwiler
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Krause
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Szoenyi
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Ulrich
mesh_terms: D000009:Abdominal Muscles / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D000037:Abruptio Placentae / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D001238:Asphyxia Neonatorum / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D002585:Cesarean Section; D003951:Diagnostic Errors; D005260:Female; D006406:Hematoma / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D006801:Humans; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D011247:Pregnancy; D011273:Pregnancy, Prolonged; D016216:Ultrasonography, Prenatal
vernacular_title: Spontanes Bauchwandhämatom: Fehldiagnose einer vorzeitigen Plazentalösung.