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[A case of rectus sheath hematoma]
Zülfikar Karabulut1, Ilker Abci, Hatice Lakadamyali
1Department of General Surgery, Medicine Faculty of Başkent University, Alanya Training and Research Center, Antalya, Turkey. drkarabulut33@yahoo.com
Summary
Rectus sheath hematomas are rare abdominal injuries. Early diagnosis with imaging and conservative treatment leads to full recovery.
Area of Science:
- Abdominal Imaging
- Vascular Surgery
- Gastroenterology
Background:
- Rectus sheath hematomas (RSH) are uncommon abdominal injuries.
- They result from damage to epigastric vessels or the rectus muscle.
- RSH are often infraumbilical and misdiagnosed as inflammatory conditions or tumors.
Observation:
- A 70-year-old woman presented with severe left-sided abdominal pain, nausea, and vomiting post-heavy lifting.
- Abdominal ultrasonography and computed tomography (CT) confirmed a rectus sheath hematoma.
Findings:
- Computed tomography (CT) is essential for definitive RSH diagnosis.
- Conservative management, including rest, fluids, and analgesia, is the preferred treatment approach.
Implications:
- Accurate diagnosis of rectus sheath hematoma is crucial to avoid misdiagnosis.
- Conservative treatment is effective for rectus sheath hematoma, minimizing surgical intervention.