Hemoperitoneum is a rare complication of open inguinal hernia repair. This is the third reported case of this complication attributed to the same bleeding source: Sampson's artery. Sampson's artery courses along the round ligament of the uterus in the inguinal canal of females, originating from the arcade formed between the uterine and ovarian arteries. Usually obliterated in postembryonic development, this artery can persist in some adult female patients. Disruption of Sampson's artery can lead to hemoperitoneum following ligation of the uterine round ligament during open inguinal hernia repair in females. This case report describes a third confirmed case of hemoperitoneum complicating an open inguinal hernia repair. We review all three reported cases to date and discuss the recurring signs, symptoms, epidemiologic factors, and diagnostic findings associated. Our review suggests that females of childbearing age, particularly those in the peripartum period, are most at risk of developing this rare complication.

Typical in vitro analysis of medical device performance occurs at room temperature (~70 degrees Fahrenheit). Effective evaluation requires at temperature studies for blood contacting medical devices for the following purposes: wear characteristics, thermal expansion, and temperature effects on sensors in the design. The task was to control the fluid within an ISO5198 hydraulic loop used to evaluate left ventricular assist devices at a given temperature between 95F and 105F. The design was to function within one degree Fahrenheit. This task was accomplished utilizing a microcontroller, the PowerSwitch Tail II, a DS18B20 waterproof temperature sensor, and an immersion heater. To manage heat loss from the piping section of the loop foam piping insulation was installed to all non-testing sections. The group was able to successfully thermally regulate temperature in the loop for a range of flow rates (2-10 LPM). The team utilized a pulsing control architecture to keep overshoot within the system to a minimum. The system takes approximately 6 mins to come to temperature with approximately a one degree overshoot. The longest recorded success of controlling the loop within a plus or minus one degree accuracy is approximately 2 hours. A computational model of the system was made using the thermofluid blocks of the Simulink Simscape foundation library. Approximated heat loss is roughly 70 W for the entire circuit, which equates to one degree Fahrenheit drop for every five minutes without heat input. The result of this design is a cost effective means of producing reflective in vivo thermal conditions.

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