Gunshot Wound With Massive Intraintestinal Hemorrhage

This article reports an unusual physical finding in a case involving the death of a 31-year-old female from multiple gunshot wounds. Physical examination at autopsy revealed a massive intraintestinal hemorrhage of 1.3 L with relatively little associated intraperitoneal and retroperitoneal hemorrhage. This case highlights the fact that, in select cases, the intestinal lumen is a potential space for extensive blood accumulation following abdominal trauma. Emergency physicians and trauma surgeons should be aware of the potential for such an occurrence in patients with similar traumas.