Idiopathic spontaneous intraperitoneal haemorrhage: A near fatal presentation of acute abdomen requiring prompt diagnosis

Idiopathic spontaneous intraperitoneal haemorrhage is a rare and life-threatening condition that results from non-traumatic visceral artery rupture in the latter half of pregnancy and within the postpartum period [1–3]. A 32 -year-old woman presented to emergency department, 14 weeks post-partum, with sharp left sided abdominal pain, nausea, and vomiting. Initial computed tomography (CT) was suggestive of non-specific colitis from transverse to descending colon of unclear cause. Six hours into admission she became haemodynamically unstable with abdominal peritonism resulting in emergency laparotomy. Intra-operative findings showed large volume haemoperitoneum with an active bleed from the middle colic artery. Symptoms and clinical presentation of Idiopathic spontaneous intraperitoneal haemorrhage is variable and ranges from vague abdominal pain to haemorrhagic shock. A latent period of several hours may be followed by a rapid progression of symptoms owing to rapidity of extravasation[3]. Pathogenesis has been suggested to arise from the increased physiologic demands during the intrapartum period, wherein repeated distension of vessels and increased tortuosity leads to a predisposition for rupture [4]. Diagnosis of Idiopathic spontaneous intraperitoneal haemorrhage is difficult but should be a differential in those who are post-partum presenting with abdominal pain. Patients should be assessed with CT angiography and treatment focused around aggressive resuscitation, surgical exploration, and ligation [3]. •Idiopathic spontaneous intraperitoneal haemorrhage is a rare and life-threatening condition.•Pathogenesis is of non-traumatic visceral artery rupture, with 30 % of cases having no identifiable cause.•Unprovoked peritoneal haemorrhage can occur within latter half of pregnancy and the postpartum period.•Treatment is centred around aggressive resuscitation, surgical exploration, and ligation.