Post mortem CT demonstration of hemoperitoneum caused by rapture of a paraumbilical vein into a paraumbilical hernia in a man with liver cirrhosis and portal hypertension

Eleanor Bott, Chris O'Donnell, Michael P Burke

Research output: Contribution to journalArticleOther

5 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

In patients with liver cirrhosis and portal hypertension collateral circulation can develop to direct blood from portal to systemic veins allowing decompression of the portal system. A potential complication of portal hypertension is rupture of collateral vessels with subsequent fatal hemorrhage, occurring most commonly in the esophagus. The paraumbilical vein is a recognized collateral pathway in patients with portal hypertension however cases of rupture have been rarely documented. The authors report a case of hemoperitoneum caused by rupture of a paraumbilical vein into a paraumbilical hernia in a man with liver cirrhosis and portal hypertension. Post mortem CT imaging was valuable in localizing the source of hemorrhage in this case.
Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)77 - 81
Number of pages5
JournalForensic Science, Medicine and Pathology
Volume9
Issue number1
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 2013

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