Endovascular embolisation treatment in a rare acute abdomen spontaneous rectus sheath haematoma.

Background: In this study, we aimed to review spontaneous rectus sheath hematoma (RSH) and the results of endovascular therapy in patients presenting with a rare acute abdomen.

Methods: We evaluated the patients with RSH because of acute abdominal pain and applied endovascular embolization treatment who were admitted to our hospital emergency department retrospectively between December 2016 and December 2018.

Results: Rectus muscle sheath bleeding is an extremely rare and urgent emergency intervention. In the etiology, chronic severe cough crises and trauma may be the cause of haemorrhage in the elderly patient group; spontaneous bleedings may be seen with the increase in the use of anticoagulants. In this study, a total of six patients, 53-95 years old (mean 75.5) endovascular embolization treatment was administered on who were admitted to our hospital with the diagnosis of RSH and long-term anticoagulant use. In our series, physical examination findings, laboratory values, computed tomography (CT), CT angiography and digital subtraction angiography (DSA) findings were presented. The findings showed an active extravasation from the superficial circumflex iliac artery in two patients and the inferior epigastric artery in three patients. We had no bleeding focus in only one patient. An ultrasound-guided 5 Fr arterial sheath was placed on the side of the hematoma in the procedure. Then, the inferior epigastric artery and deep circumflex arteries were selectively catheterized using the Vertebral Diagnostic Catheter (5 Fr or 4 Fr). Superselective catheterization, with the help of microcatheter from the existing diagnostic catheter, was used to embolize the arteries and branches with active extravasation using a detachable coil. In the control angiographies performed after embolization, pathological staining disappeared, and complete embolization was achieved. There were no complications associated with the endovascular procedures. No active extravasation was detected in angiography examination, and inpatient follow-up, blood transfusion, antibiotics and analgesic support were performed in only one patient. However, it was ex as a result of reasons related to advance heart failure.

Conclusion: RSH is a life-threatening condition that may cause acute abdominal pain, and endovascular embolization is a safe and effective treatment option that can be applied quickly in this patient group.