Neonatal hemoperitoneum: unexpected birth trauma with fatal consequences.

We report a case of fatal intra-abdominal bleeding in a term newborn delivered by vacuum extractor and Kristeller manouvre. Although autopsy was not performed in compliance with the parents' wishes, there is strong evidence of a massive abdominal haemorrhage due to injuries of the hypochondriac organs probably leading to disconnection of a vascular pedicle.