Transcatheter arterial embolization of spontaneous rectus sheath haematoma in a Chinese woman.
Spontaneous extraperitoneal haemorrhage is a rare but well-described complication of anticoagulation therapy. We report a case of spontaneous rectus sheath haematoma in a 69-year-old Chinese woman who had received low-molecular-weight heparin for pulmonary embolism. She presented with sudden onset of lower abdominal pain, hypotension and a tender lower abdominal mass after 1 week of anticoagulation therapy. Computed tomography revealed a huge right rectus sheath haematoma extending into the pelvis, and angiography demonstrated active contrast extravasation from the right inferior epigastric artery. Arterial embolization with Gelfoam was performed and succeeded in stopping the bleeding. Transcatheter arterial embolization can be an effective and safe modality to localize and treat the bleeder in spontaneous extraperitoneal haematoma for high-risk patients.
Wong
Joseph Hon-Ming
JH
Department of Surgery, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Prince of Wales Hospital, Shatin, Hong Kong SAR.
Ng
Simon Siu-Man
SS
Ho
Simon Sze-Ming
SS
Lee
Janet Fung-Yee
JF
D000368:Aged; D004621:Embolization, Therapeutic / Q000379:methods*; D005260:Female; D005781:Gelatin Sponge, Absorbable / Q000008:administration & dosage; D006406:Hematoma / Q000628:therapy*; D006801:Humans; D017568:Rectus Abdominis / Q000098:blood supply*