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Updated: Jul 15, 2026

Multimodality Diagnosis of Mesenteric Ischemia
Published on: July 21, 2023
[Abdominal bleeding due to spontaneous mesenteric vein rupture]
Mariano García1, Rodrigo Roman, Matías Variego
1Servicio de Clínica Médica, Hospital Provincial del Centenario, Santa Fe, República Argentina. mjmgarcia5@hotmail.com
A rare case of spontaneous mesenteric vein rupture in a patient with hepatic cirrhosis led to significant intraabdominal bleeding. Surgical repair resulted in a successful recovery, highlighting a positive outcome for this critical condition.
Area of Science:
- Gastroenterology
- Vascular Surgery
- Hepatology
Background:
- Hepatic cirrhosis commonly causes portal hypertension and splanchnic varices.
- Variceal rupture leading to hemoperitoneum is a rare but serious complication.
Observation:
- A 43-year-old male with advanced hepatic cirrhosis (Child-Pugh C) presented with symptoms of hypovolemia and abdominal distension.
- Diagnostic imaging revealed hemoperitoneum, and exploratory laparotomy identified a ruptured mesenteric vein varix.
Findings:
- The patient had a spontaneous mesenteric vein rupture with significant intraabdominal hemorrhage.
- Surgical intervention involved the repair of the ruptured varix.
Implications:
- This case highlights a rare cause of intraabdominal bleeding with a potentially high mortality rate.
- Successful surgical management of mesenteric vein rupture can lead to good clinical outcomes even in cirrhotic patients.
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