Laparoscopic control of spontaneous external hemorrhage from umbilical varix

Spontaneous external hemorrhage from an umbilical varix is rare. We describe a 40-year-old man with cirrhosis and portal hypertension, who presented with recurrent external bleeding from an umbilical varix. The first episode was controlled by transfixation of the vein under local anesthesia. Contrast-enhanced CT scan demonstrated a hugely distended recanalized umbilical vein arising from the left branch of the portal vein and ending in the umbilical cicatrix. Recurrent bleeding necessitated laparoscopy and in-situ clipping of the bleeding vein in the falciform ligament. At six months' follow up the patient has no further bleeding.