A continuous leak from within: a case report on flood syndrome

Flood syndrome is a very rare complication that can be found in patients with end-stage liver cirrhosis with concurrent ventral hernias. If the hernia ruptures, ascites can begin to leak uncontrollably from the opening which can become a nidus for infection if left untreated. This scenario is known as Flood syndrome, which was first described by Frank Flood in 1961. Flood syndrome is very difficult to manage for physicians as these patients are poor candidates for surgery but the ascitic leak will continue without surgical intervention. Currently, there is no standard of care for Flood syndrome. As such, physicians must rely on case reports to help guide their treatment plan. Our case report highlights the case of a 66-year-old cirrhotic patient with an ascitic leak from a ruptured umbilical hernia with discussion of both medical and surgical approaches to managing this very rare syndrome.