Introduction:
Rectus sheath haematomas associated with anticoagulation are often self limiting. When large, however, they can even extend into the pelvis and cause compression of adjacent organs such as the bladder. A combined endovascular and surgical approach can decrease the operative exposure necessary to treat this occurrence.
Report:
A 42 year old morbidly obese African American female on warfarin treatment for pulmonary embolism presented outside the hospital with pneumonia. During her hospitalisation, she developed a spontaneous right rectus abdominis haematoma below the level of the umbilicus with active bleeding in the extraperitoneal space causing mass compression of the bladder. She developed acute renal failure and became anuric. Following endovascular embolisation of the inferior epigastric artery, surgical exploration was successfully performed to remove the haematoma and relieve the urinary obstruction. Diuresis resumed and renal function normalised without any further evidence of bleeding.
Discussion:
A large rectus sheath haematoma that extends into the bladder causing renal obstruction can be treated by endovascular embolisation and surgical exploration to limit operative risks and exposure in morbidly obese patients.