Fatal haemorrhage from a caput medusae: a differential to a stabbing.
Fatal haemorrhage from caput medusae is reported once previously in the literature. We report the case of a 48-year-old man who presented to the ED in hypovolaemic shock, with a suspected stab wound to the abdomen. He was subsequently found to have exsanguinated from a cutaneous varix secondary to chronic liver disease.
Hoi
Kent Y
KY
Emergency Medicine, Western Hospital, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia. kenthoi@yahoo.com
Mignanelli
Emilio D
ED
Lightfoot
David
D
D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D017809:Fatal Outcome; D006470:Hemorrhage / Q000209:etiology*; D006801:Humans; D006975:Hypertension, Portal / Q000150:complications* / Q000175:diagnosis; D010535:Laparoscopy / Q000009:adverse effects*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D014951:Wounds, Stab / Q000175:diagnosis