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Case Reports
. 2021 Feb 10:32:100424.
doi: 10.1016/j.tcr.2021.100424. eCollection 2021 Apr.

Hemoperitoneum secondary to mesenteric laceration after abdominal trauma - Case report

Marta M Ferreira  1 , Narcisa Guimarães  1 , Inês Bolais Mónica  1 , Simone Oliveira  1 , Daniela Pais  1 , Sara Andrade  1 , Alice Fonseca  1 , Ana Couceiro  1 , Isabel Borges  1 , José Valente Cecílio  1
Affiliations
Case Reports

Hemoperitoneum secondary to mesenteric laceration after abdominal trauma - Case report

Marta M Ferreira et al. Trauma Case Rep. .

Erratum in

Abstract

Mesenteric laceration is an uncommon cause of hemoperitoneum, with nonspecific signs and symptoms and frequently is camouflaged by the signs of other traumatic lesions. There is a high risk to go unnoticed increasing morbidity and mortality. We report a case of a 43-year-old man, who was involved in a motorcycle accident, with thoraco-abdomino-pelvic trauma, but without evidence of intra-abdominal lesions on exams, with exception of hemoperitoneum. Due to hemodynamic instability, it was performed an exploratory laparotomy. Intraoperative findings were mesenteric lacerations affecting a small bowel segment. This case demonstrates that a high index of suspicion is necessary to diagnose and treat lesions like mesenteric laceration, not visible early on imaging but potentially fatal, with high risk of complications.

Keywords: Blunt trauma; Hemoperitoneum; Mesenteric laceration.

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Figures

Fig. 1
Fig. 1
Initial complementary diagnostic tests. A - wrists X-rays. B – pelvic CT. C - TAP CT scan: Rib fractures (arrow 1) and moderate peritoneal effusion (perisplenic, in the left paracolic gutter and in the pelvic cavity) compatible with hemoperitoneum (arrow 2).
Fig. 2
Fig. 2
A – Mesenteric laceration, B - mesentery gap closed.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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