A case of traumatic ovarian varices rupture in a liver cirrhosis patient

Abstract

A 59-year-old woman with liver cirrhosis fell down the stairs and was found to have a bruise in her lumber area. She was checked in a hospital, and admitted since her blood pressure was low ; her laboratory data were normal. Next morning, she became unconscious and became progressively more anemic Enhanced abdominal CT demonstrated intra-abdominal bleeding in the left lower side of the abdomen. She was transferred to our hospital. On arrival, she was in hemorrhagic shock ; an urgent laparotomy was performed. There were 2500 ml of bloody ascites ; the bleeding source was found to be ruptured left ovarian varices. Hemostasis was achieved by ligating the varicose veins. Ectopic varices are often seen in patients with liver cirrhosis. This is the first case of traumatic rupture of ovarian varices reported in Japan ; an overview of the disease is also provided.