Successful conservative management of a large traumatic mesenteric hematoma: A case report

In blunt abdominal trauma, small bowel and mesentery injury (SBMI) is the third most common organ injury with an estimated incidence of 1-5%. Traumatic mesenteric injuries are difficult to diagnose and their undiagnosed complications are severe with high mortality rates.

A 21-year-old male presented to the emergency room with severe colicky pain in the right-hypochondrium 2 h after dinner. He gave history of nausea, vomiting and diarrhea after dinner and before the pain started. The morning after admission, a Contrast Enhanced Computed Tomography (CECT) scan was done which showed a large mesenteric hematoma. On subsequent questioning, the patient then recalled a blow to the abdomen while playing basketball two days ago. Since the patient was hemodynamically stable, non-operative management (NOM) was chosen with close monitoring. Regular follow-up ultrasonography (USG) scans showed progressive spontaneous resolution of the hematoma.

Nonspecific symptoms of mesenteric hematoma make it difficult to reach a diagnosis. It is usually identified by history or medical imaging. Mesenteric hematoma can be managed conservatively if there is no active bleeding. In stable patients, selective visceral angiography should be performed and bleeding vessels should be embolized where possible.

This case highlights a successful conservative management of a large traumatic mesenteric hematoma. It also emphasizes the importance of eliciting a detailed history of major or minor trauma for any patient with abdominal pain. Previous cases have also highlighted the importance of non-operative management and avoidance of emergency laparotomy in stable patients.