title: Spontaneous intraperitoneal rupture of a postpartum rectus sheath haematoma.
abstract: A 35-year-old woman presented to the emergency department (ED) with acute severe abdominal pain at 4 days postpartum. CT of the abdomen revealed a type II rectus sheath haematoma for which she was initially treated conservatively and discharged. A few hours later, she returned to the ED with a picture suggestive of peritonitis. Exploratory laparoscopy was performed and revealed haemoperitoneum and a ruptured area on the posterior rectus sheath. Approximately 2 L of blood was aspirated. Haemostatic control was achieved and closed suction drains secured in position. The patient was discharged in stable condition on postadmission day 6. She continued to follow-up on an outpatient basis and was doing well 3 months postoperatively.
authors.affiliation: Department of Trauma Services, Hurley Medical Center, Flint, Michigan, USA.
authors.forename: Adel
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Elmoghrabi
authors.affiliation: Department of Trauma Services, Hurley Medical Center, Flint, Michigan, USA.
authors.forename: Mohamed
authors.identifier: http://orcid.org/0000-0002-4511-5421
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Mohamed
authors.affiliation: Department of Trauma Services, Hurley Medical Center, Flint, Michigan, USA.
authors.forename: Michael
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: McCann
authors.affiliation: Department of Trauma Services, Hurley Medical Center, Flint, Michigan, USA.
authors.forename: Gul
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Sachwani-Daswani
mesh_terms: D015746:Abdominal Pain / Q000209:etiology; D000328:Adult; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D005260:Female; D006465:Hemoperitoneum / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000601:surgery; D006801:Humans; D049590:Postpartum Period; D017568:Rectus Abdominis / Q000293:injuries* / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery; D012422:Rupture, Spontaneous / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed; D016896:Treatment Outcome