Hemoperitoneum from a ruptured varix in cirrhosis. Case report and literature review.

A cirrhotic patient with hemoperitoneum is presented. The diagnosis of ruptured retroperitoneal varices was made at laparotomy and the patient becomes the second reported case to survive hospitalization for bleeding intra-abdominal varices. The formation of varices as a consequence of portal hypertension is discussed; the differential diagnosis and evaluation of hemoperitoneum is considered and the seven previously reported cases of intra-abdominal variceal hemorrhage are reviewed.