Life-threatening hemoperitoneum secondary to rupture of a uterine leiomyoma: A case report and review of the literature

Hemoperitoneum caused by spontaneous rupture of a leiomyoma: A case report

Uterine myomas, fibroids or leiomyomas are benign neoplasms that can present as abnormal uterine bleeding and pressure symptoms. Significant complications are infrequent, but they can be life-threatening. This is a case of a ruptured fibroid where excessive intra-abdominal bleeding resulted in hemoperitoneum. In this clinical scenario, timely recognition and intervention were essential to prevent morbidity and mortality. This article discusses the diagnostic challenges and surgical management of a case of hemoperitoneum resulting from spontaneous haemorrhage from a ruptured vessel on the surface of a subserosal leiomyoma. A 42-year-old patient with a known multi-fibroid uterus awaiting elective surgery presented with acute-onset abdominal pain to the emergency department. She had a distended, tender abdomen. Laboratory tests and contrast computerised tomography revealed haemorrhage with no clear source of bleeding. Emergency midline laparotomy revealed active bleeding from the surface of a posterior subserosal leiomyoma with 1950 mL hemoperitoneum. A total abdominal hysterectomy was performed, and the patient had an uncomplicated recovery. The pre-operative haemoglobin level was 80 g/L, which normalized after several blood transfusions. Histopathological examination confirmed multiple leiomyomas and haemorrhage associated with ischaemic changes. Hemoperitoneum from a bleeding degenerating leiomyoma is an exceedingly uncommon complication. The atypical presentation of abdominal pain and the presence of a multi-fibroid uterus posed diagnostic challenges. This case underscores the importance of considering leiomyomas as a potential cause of acute abdominal pain and bleeding. Timely surgical intervention, supported by a multidisciplinary approach, is essential for optimal patient outcome.

A case of severe hemorrhagic shock caused by traumatic avulsion of uterine fibroid

Case presentation

A 40-year-old woman was injured in a motor vehicle accident. Physician-staffed helicopter emergency medical service (HEMS) was dispatched, and after the HEMS physician performed thoracostomy and tracheal intubation to relieve the tension pneumothorax and hemorrhagic shock, her carotid artery became unpalpable. The physician then decided to perform prehospital resuscitative thoracotomy. Immediately after arriving at the hospital, an emergency laparotomy was performed. Intraoperative findings showed that a huge uterine fibroid had been avulsed from the uterine wall, and we performed temporary hemostasis by extraction of the avulsed tumor and application of packing to the pelvic cavity. She was transferred to a rehabilitation hospital 42 days after the operation.

Conclusion

The injury mechanism in this case was considered a “submarine effect.” This was an extremely rare case in which the acute care surgeon and a gynecologist collaboratively employed a damage control strategy to deal with impending cardiac arrest.

Successful laparoscopic management of acute abdominal pain due to spontaneous rupture of subserosal vessels overlying a uterine fibroid: a case report and surgical video

Background

Acute abdomen comprises several emergencies. Hemoperitoneum associated with uterine fibroids, which can present as acute abdominal pain, is rare and difficult to diagnose. Especially, spontaneous hemorrhage from the rupture of the superficial vessels overlying a uterine fibroid is extremely rare, and its diagnosis and management have not been established.

Case presentation

We report a case of a 55-year-old woman who presented at our hospital with acute abdomen. After performing a computed tomography scan, we conducted a laparoscopic examination and diagnosed hemoperitoneum of ambiguous origin. We treated the patient surgically, performing a laparoscopic myomectomy to remove the origin of the hemorrhage. The patient recovered well.

Conclusions

We report a case of hemoperitoneum of ambiguous origin that was diagnosed laparoscopically and treated by laparoscopic myomectomy to remove the origin of the hemorrhage. Surgeons should rapidly diagnose and manage acute abdominal pain in women with a history of uterine fibroids to prevent severe morbidity or even mortality. Therefore, laparoscopic surgery is recommended in patients with stable hemodynamics.

Supplementary Information

The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s12905-022-01970-0.

A rare complication of uterine leiomyomata: Severe haemoperitoneum caused by the rupture of an overlying subserosa variceal vein: A case report

The rupture of a subserosa variceal vein overlying a uterine myoma is a rare complication and a less common cause of gynecologic haemoperitoneum. The literature data are scarce regarding this condition and less than 100 cases have been reported (including those occurring during pregnancy). The present case is of a 48-year-old woman, with a history of asymptomatic uterine myoma, who was hospitalised for severe abdominal pain with sudden onset and signs of hypovolemic shock. The emergency conventional imaging exams confirmed the diagnosis of uterine myoma and haemoperitoneum, but did not reveal the source of bleeding. The cause of haemoperitoneum was detected by means of emergency laparotomy. In order to obtain quick hemostasis, in the settings of a rapid deteriorating hypovolemic shock, a supracervical hysterectomy was performed. The aim of the article is to raise awareness to gynecologists regarding this extremely rare life-threatening complication of the most common benign tumor of the uterus.

Hemoperitoneum associated with uterine fibroids: A case report

INTRODUCTION

Uterine fibroids, which are common benign tumors, rarely cause acute complications. We herein report a case of hemoperitoneum associated with uterine fibroid that could be diagnosed preoperatively with contrast-enhanced computerized tomography (CT).

PATIENT CONCERNS

A 48-year-old woman with uterine fibroid developed extremely severe lower abdominal pain on the first day of her menstrual period.

DIAGNOSIS

Ultrasonography and contrast-enhanced CT revealed a uterine fibroid and extravasation from the dilated vessels of the uterine fibroid.

INTERVENTION

Emergent abdominal hysterectomy was performed.

OUTCOMES

The total amount of bleeding was 4,600 mL. Intraoperative blood salvage (1,357 mL), 6 units of red blood cells, 4 units of fresh frozen plasma, and 20 units of platelet concentrates were transfused. The postoperative course was uneventful. Pathological examination confirmed a benign uterine fibroid.

CONCLUSION

CT could be useful to determine a diagnosis for bleeding from ruptured subserosal uterine fibroid.

Use of point-of-care ultrasound to diagnose spontaneous rupture of fibroid in pregnancy

Background: Complications of fibroids in pregnancy are well known, including postpartum hemorrhage, labor dystocia, and cesarean delivery. Outside of pregnancy and labor, the rare occurrence of spontaneous fibroid rupture has been documented. Case: The current case report involves a woman who presented with acute abdominal pain in the third trimester of pregnancy and was found to have spontaneous rupture of a fibroid before the onset of labor. Her initial presentation, diagnosis through use of point-of-care ultrasound, acute surgical management, and postoperative course are described. Conclusion: When assessing acute abdominal pain in a pregnant patient, fibroid rupture should be considered despite the absence of prior uterine surgery. Bedside point-of-care ultrasonography is a useful tool for assessment of abdominal pain in the third trimester of pregnancy.

Spontaneous Rupture of Leiomyoma Diagnosed Preoperatively with Noncontrast Computed Tomography

Background

Spontaneous rupture of benign uterine fibroids is extremely rare and has been associated with fibroid degeneration. It can cause acute intraperitoneal bleeding requiring immediate surgical intervention.

Case

A previously healthy 50-year-old, Caucasian, nullipara presented with syncope, hemodynamic instability, and an acute abdomen. Noncontrast computed tomography images showed a positive sentinel clot sign in the pelvis as well as a large uterine fibroid with internal hyperdense clot suggesting acute rupture. Urgent laparotomy and hysterectomy confirmed a ruptured, actively bleeding, uterine fibroid with final pathological diagnosis of a benign leiomyoma.

Conclusion

Prompt diagnosis and emergency surgical intervention were necessary to control acute hemorrhage from a ruptured uterine fibroid. Noncontrast computed tomography is an important adjunct to contrast-enhanced computed tomography and was vital for diagnosis in this case.