Massive intra-abdominal bleeding caused by nontraumatic rupture of a vein in the colorenal ligament: report of a case.

We report a case of acute abdomen caused by nontraumatic intra-abdominal bleeding in a 38-year-old man. Emergency laparotomy revealed the source of bleeding as a vein in the right colorenal ligament. The rupture of this vein may have been attributable to shear stress after severe vomiting on the day before admission. Although the patient had a coagulation disorder secondary to early-stage liver cirrhosis, there were no signs of portal hypertension intraoperatively. This report describes an unusual cause of acute hemoperitoneum, highlighting the importance of including this life-threatening disorder in the differential diagnosis of acute abdomen of unknown origin. Its outcome is dependent on early diagnosis and prompt emergency intervention.