title: Lesson learnt: don't prescribe heparin for hemoperitoneum!
abstract: This paper describes a case of spontaneous rupture of the spleen that was misdiagnosed as pulmonary embolism. Because of a lack of history of trauma, rarity of occurrence, and confusing clinical presentations, an unwary clinician may fail to diagnose this condition in time. It may result in erroneous treatment of a condition, which is potentially curable.
authors.affiliation: West Cumberland Hospital, Whitehaven, Cumbria CA28 8GJ, UK. debnath10@hotmail.com
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Debnath
mesh_terms: D000925:Anticoagulants; D000075202:Contraindications; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D006465:Hemoperitoneum / Q000175:diagnosis*; D006493:Heparin; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011655:Pulmonary Embolism / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000188:drug therapy; D012422:Rupture, Spontaneous / Q000175:diagnosis; D013161:Splenic Rupture / Q000175:diagnosis*
chemical_list: D000925:Anticoagulants; D006493:Heparin