Spontaneous rectus sheath hematoma during treatment of pulmonary embolism with warfarin: report of a case.

We present a case of a patient suffering from acute abdomen with a palpable mass on the left lower quadrant of the abdominal wall. The clinical manifestations and plain abdomen gave the misleading diagnosis of a ventral hernia. A review of the patient history revealed the use of anticoagulants for pulmonary embolism, and as a result computed tomography (CT) was performed which provided an accurate diagnosis of rectus sheath hematoma. The probable pathogenesis is discussed.