Death Due to Non-Traumatic Hemoperitoneum in Milan 2002-2016, With Focus on two Cases Of Abdominal Apoplexya (Idiopathic Spontaneous Hemoperitoneum) And Review of the Literature

Hemoperitoneum is usually caused by a rupture or perforation of a blood vessel or an organ of the abdominal cavity and can be caused by traumas, primary vascular pathologies, aneurysm ruptures. It can also be secondary, as in the case of erosion of a vessel wall by a tumor. Among the causes of hemoperitoneum, the so-called abdominal apoplexy, is very difficult to diagnose and treat: it is caused by spontaneous rupture of an intra-abdominal artery. The term “apoplexy” is derived from the Greek word apoplēxia which means “striking away”.

Source: Legal Medicine - September 23, 2017 Category: Forensic Medicine Authors: Alessio Battistini, Matteo Marchesi, Alberto Amadasi, Alessandra Rancati, Guendalina Gentile, Riccardo Zoja Source Type: research