Intra-abdominal bleeding in appendicitis
Thongprayoon, C.; Pasa-Arj, S.
Journal of the Medical Association of Thailand 74(8): 369-371
1991
ISSN/ISBN: 0125-2208 PMID: 1791388 Document Number: 379091
A 34-year-old woman, gravida 6 with 10 weeks of gestation was admitted because of abdominal pain and fainting. On physical examination she had hypotension, was pale with abdominal tenderness and guarding. Culdocentesis yielded unclotted blood. Immediate laparotomy was performed, because a diagnosis of ectopic pregnancy was made. About 2,500 ml of fresh blood was found in the abdominal cavity. Appendicular artery tear caused active arterial bleeding. The torn appendicular artery was observed to be the consequence of perforated appendicitis, which, in turn, was caused by a faecalith. Appendectomy was performed and she made a good recovery.