Spontaneous hemoperitoneum during pregnancy: three case reports and literature review

OBJECTIVES

This case report presented cases with spontaneous hemoperitoneum during pregnancy.

CASE REPORT

Case 1 presented with acute abdominal pain with signs of shock. Cases 2 and 3 both presented with stable vital signs and the sudden decline of fetal heart rate. Cesarean section was performed at 27, 36⁺⁴, and 34 gestational weeks, respectively. Bleeding sites were founded on the surface of the uterus or the parametrium. The perinatal outcome was stillbirth, live birth, and neonatal severe asphyxia.

CONCLUSION

Careful physical examination, strict monitoring of vital signs, and timely surgical intervention are critical for improving the prognosis.

Anterior superior pancreaticoduodenal artery pseudoaneurysm after distal pancreatectomy with en bloc celiac axis resection successfully treated with balloon-assisted coil embolization

Bleeding is a fatal complication after pancreatectomy. Although coil embolization is a widely accepted treatment option, ischemia of the remaining organs should be prevented. This study reports the successful treatment of intra-abdominal hemorrhage following distal pancreatectomy with en bloc celiac axis resection (DP-CAR) using balloon-assisted coil embolization (BACE). A 59-year-old man was diagnosed with locally advanced pancreatic cancer. The tumor involves the common hepatic artery, splenic artery, and celiac artery. After four cycles of treatment with gemcitabine/nab-paclitaxel, the soft-density masses, surrounding the artery, shrunk. DP-CAR and R0 resections were performed. A minor postoperative pancreatic fistula occurred. Six months postoperatively, the computed tomography showed delayed asymptomatic bleeding from an anterior superior pancreaticoduodenal artery (ASPDA) pseudoaneurysm located near the gastroduodenal artery confluence. BACE was performed by placing a microballoon catheter in the region of confluence of the ASPDA and posterior superior pancreaticoduodenal artery (PSPDA) to prevent coil migration. After inserting the microballoon catheter, coil embolization was performed in the ASPDA. Hepatic blood flow was maintained from the PSPDA. BACE is a useful technique to preserve blood flow to the remnant organs when performing coil embolization for bleeding following a distal pancreatectomy, especially following a DP-CAR.

Risk factors of relaparotomy for intra-abdominal hemorrhage after cesarean delivery

OBJECTIVE

the main objective was to identify risk factors of relaparotomy for intra-abdominal hemorrhage (IAH) after cesarean delivery. The secondary objectives were to identify clinical warning signs associated with IAH: heart rate>120/min, systolic blood pressure<90 mmHg, scar bleeding, unconsciousness or abdominal pain with visual analog pain scale > 7 or use of category 3 analgesic medications, in the post-anesthesia care unit and in the post-partum unit.

STUDY DESIGN

a case-control study (1:2 ratio), in two academic tertiary perinatal centers during 2008-2017. Postpartum laparotomies performed for another indication were excluded. The cases were women who underwent relaparotomy for IAH. A control group comprised women who had an uncomplicated cesarean delivery before and after each case.

RESULTS

19,007 women had a cesarean delivery during the study period and among them 52 relaparotomies (0.27 %) for IAH were performed. 48 cases were compared to 96 controls. In multivariate analysis, the existence of a preeclampsia (aOR = 2.8, 95 % IC 1.1-7.4), urgent cesarean (aOR = 3.2, 95 % IC 1.1-9.6), surgical difficulties during initial cesarean (aOR = 9.0, 95 % IC 2.8-23.8), and estimated blood loss > 500 mL during initial cesarean (aOR = 7.4, 95 % IC 2.4-22.5) were independently associated with IAH. Tachycardia > 120/min was the most discriminating factor associated with the occurrence of relaparotomy for IAH (84 %). In the absence of tachycardia, hypotension < 90 mmHg was the second most discriminant factor for IAH (73 %).

CONCLUSION

preeclampsia, urgent cesarean, surgical difficulties and blood loss > 500 mL during initial cesarean were independently associated with an increased risk of relaparotomy for IAH. Tachycardia and/or hypotension were discriminant-warning signs for severe IAH.

Ruptured intra-abdominal testicular seminoma with hemorrhage shock, after inadequate surgical exploration for undescended testis: a case report

BACKGROUND

Undescended testes are associated with an increased risk of malignancy and infertility, and surgical treatment in childhood is recommended.

CASE PRESENTATION

A 35-year-old man presented to the emergency department with abdominal pain and vomiting. Despite a history of surgery for a left undescended testis in infancy, his left-sided scrotum appeared underdeveloped. Contrast-enhanced computed tomography showed a pelvic mass, involving a major axis of approximately 15 cm, with high-density ascites suggestive of hemorrhage. A ruptured gastrointestinal stromal tumor was suspected. As he was in hemorrhagic shock, an emergency laparotomy was indicated. The active bleeding mass was controlled through complete resection. A pathological evaluation of the mass revealed a seminoma arising from an undescended testis. His post-operative course was uneventful, and he was discharged on post-operative day 6. Recurrence on the retroperitoneal lymph nodes was detected 1 year postoperatively, and a retroperitoneal lymph node dissection was performed after chemotherapy. He remains well without any apparent signs of recurrence.

CONCLUSIONS

Paying close attention to an empty scrotum is advisable, even postoperatively, for undescended testis because of possible subsequent potential malignancy presenting with hemorrhage, as our patient demonstrated.

Intra-abdominal hemorrhage during pregnancy: Four case reports

BACKGROUND

Intra-abdominal hemorrhage during pregnancy is a rare and dangerous complication of pregnancy. In this article, we report 4 cases of intra-abdominal hemorrhage during pregnancy, including the spontaneous rupture of uterine veins, spontaneous rupture of liver, rupture of external iliac vessel branch, and rupture of right renal hamartoma.

CASE SUMMARY

The clinical manifestations of three patients lacked specificity, and the localization of the bleeding was not clear prior to surgery. All 4 pregnant women were successfully treated, while only one full-term infant survived.

CONCLUSION

There are diverse causes of intra-abdominal hemorrhage during pregnancy in clinic, and it is clinically characterized by acute abdominal pain during pregnancy. Clear diagnosis before surgery is rather difficult. Early diagnosis, timely and appropriate treatment and surgery, and multidisciplinary cooperation are key to saving pregnant females’ lives and improving the outcomes of perinatal infants.

Intra-abdominal packing with laparotomy pads and QuikClot™ during damage control laparotomy: A safety analysis

BACKGROUND

Intra-abdominal packing with laparotomy pads (LP) is a common and rapid method for hemorrhage control in critically injured patients. Combat Gauze™ and Trauma Pads™ ([QC] Z-Medica QuikClot^®) are kaolin impregnated hemostatic agents, that in addition to LP, may improve hemorrhage control. While QC packing has been effective in a swine liver injury model, QC remains unstudied for human intra-abdominal use. We hypothesized QC packing during damage control laparotomy (DCL) better controls hemorrhage than standard packing and is safe for intracorporeal use.

METHODS

A retrospective review (2011-2014) at a Level-I Trauma Center reviewed all patients who underwent DCL with intentionally retained packing. Clinical characteristics, intraoperative and postoperative parameters, and outcomes were compared with respect to packing (LP vs. LP+QC). All complications occurring within the patients' hospital stays were reviewed. A p≤0.05 was considered significant.

RESULTS

68 patients underwent DCL with packing; (LP n=40; LP+QC n=28). No difference in age, BMI, injury mechanism, ISS, or GCS was detected (Table 1, all p>0.05). LP+QC patients had a lower systolic blood pressure upon ED presentation and greater blood loss during index laparotomy than LP patients. LP+QC patients received more packed red blood cell and fresh frozen plasma resuscitation during index laparotomy (both p<0.05). Despite greater physiologic derangement in the LP+QC group, there was no difference in total blood products required after index laparotomy until abdominal closure (LP vs LP+QC; p>0.05). After a median of 2days until abdominal closure in both groups, no difference in complications rates attributable to intra-abdominal packing (LP vs LP+QC) was detected.

CONCLUSION

While the addition of QC to LP packing did not confer additional benefit to standard packing, there was no additional morbidity identified with its use. The surgeons at our institution now select augmented packing with QC for sicker patients, as we believe this may have additional advantage over standard LP packing. A randomized controlled trial is warranted to further evaluate the intra-abdominal use of advanced hemostatic agents, like QC, for both hemostasis and associated morbidity.

A case of intra-abdominal hemorrhage secondary to peliosis hepatis

INTRODUCTION

peliosis hepatis (PH) is a rare vascular condition of the liver characterized by the presence of cystic blood filled cavities distributed randomly throughout the liver parenchyma Tsokos and co-workers [1-6]. Peliosis is most commonly found in the liver but can also involve the spleen, bone marrow, lungs, and abdominal lymph nodes Tsokos and Erbersdobler [1].

PRESENTATION OF CASE

We report a case of peliosis hepatis diagnosed post laparotomy. She required a re-look laparotomy with removal of packs peritoneal lavage, placement of intraseed and subhepatic drain. The patient was discharged after an 11-day recovery period.

CONCLUSION

We examine the literature and subsequently discuss the etiology and management of peliosis. Peliosis is a rare vascular condition of the liver characterized by the presence of cystic blood filled cavities. Causes are associated with a number of conditions, however, etiology is largely unknown. Management is overwhelmingly conservative except in a handful of cases.