[Hemorrhage in the abdominal cavity caused by ruptured varices]

The authors report on the successful treatment of an unusual varix rupture causing intraabdominal hemorrhage in a patient who suffered from alcoholic hepatic cirrhosis. Simultaneously with the hypogastric pain, hypotension, growing circumference of the abdomen and increasing anaemia--without hematemesis or melena--referred to intraabdominal hemorrhage, which was confirmed by diagnostic paracentesis. Urgent exploratory laparotomy revealed the source of the bleeding and made the adequate surgical treatment possible. The authors are of the opinion that in case of a suspected intraabdominal hemorrhage the exploratory puncture is of diagnostic value and an operation performed without delay may ensure the improvement of the prognosis of this severe complication.