Hemoperitoneum secondary to mesenteric laceration after abdominal trauma - Case report

• Published in: Trauma case reports Vol. 32; p. 100424
• Main Authors: Ferreira, Marta M., Guimarães, Narcisa, Mónica, Inês Bolais, Oliveira, Simone, Pais, Daniela, Andrade, Sara, Fonseca, Alice, Couceiro, Ana, Borges, Isabel, Cecílio, José Valente
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Netherlands Elsevier Ltd 01-04-2021; Elsevier
• Subjects: Blunt trauma; Case Report; Hemoperitoneum; Mesenteric laceration; Mesenteric laceration; Blunt trauma; Hemoperitoneum
• ISSN: 2352-6440; 2352-6440
• DOI: 10.1016/j.tcr.2021.100424

Mesenteric laceration is an uncommon cause of hemoperitoneum, with nonspecific signs and symptoms and frequently is camouflaged by the signs of other traumatic lesions. There is a high risk to go unnoticed increasing morbidity and mortality.
We report a case of a 43-year-old man, who was involved in a motorcycle accident, with thoraco-abdomino-pelvic trauma, but without evidence of intra-abdominal lesions on exams, with exception of hemoperitoneum. Due to hemodynamic instability, it was performed an exploratory laparotomy. Intraoperative findings were mesenteric lacerations affecting a small bowel segment.
This case demonstrates that a high index of suspicion is necessary to diagnose and treat lesions like mesenteric laceration, not visible early on imaging but potentially fatal, with high risk of complications.