Case Report

Rectus Sheath Hematoma Presenting with Acute Abdominal Pain after a Severe Cough Episode

10.5152/cjms.2018.327

  • Mehmet Tolga Kafadar
  • İbrahim Teker
  • İsmail Çetinkaya
  • Esat Taylan Uğurlu

Received Date: 28.12.2017 Accepted Date: 19.02.2018 Cyprus J Med Sci 2018;3(1):36-38

Rectus sheath hemorrhage is a rare and often overlooked cause of acute abdominal pain. The use of appropriate imaging modalities along with rapid history learning and careful physical examination will ensure accurate diagnosis and avoid unnecessary laparotomy. Rectus sheath hematoma is often self-limited; therefore, the treatment is conservative. Surgical treatment is unavoidable in large and complicated hematomas with hemodynamic dysfunction. In this article, we present the case of a 65-year-old patient who was admitted to emergency service because of severe abdominal pain after cough episode. Conservative treatment was applied to the patient who had rectus sheath hematoma.

Keywords: Acute abdominal pain, rectus sheath hematoma, conservative treatment