Spontaneous Rectus Sheath Hematoma

• Main Authors: Alla, Venkata M, Karnam, Showri M, Kaushik, Manu, Porter, Joann
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: eScholarship Publishing, University of California 2010-02-01
• Series: Western Journal of Emergency Medicine
• Subjects: Rectus sheath hematoma; RSH; acute abdomen; abdominal pain; parietal wall pain.
• Online Access: http://escholarship.org/uc/item/0dw7z87v
• ISSN: 1936-900X; 1936-9018

Abdominal wall pathology is a frequently overlooked cause of acute abdomen. Increasing use of antiplatelet and anticoagulant therapies has led to an increase in the incidence of spontaneous rectus sheath hematoma (RSH). A high index of suspicion is needed for diagnosis as it can closely mimic other causes of acute abdomen. Herein, we report a case of RSH presenting with abdominal pain in which there was a significant delay in diagnosis. We wish to highlight the need to increase awareness among primary and emergency physicians about considering RSH in the initial differential diagnoses of abdominal pain. [West J Emerg Med. 2010; 11(1):76-79].