Idiopathic Spontaneous Intraperitoneal Haemorrhage (ISIH): A Diagnostic Dilemma and Its Conservative Management

Abstract

Idiopathic spontaneous intraperitoneal haemorrhage (ISIH) is a rare cause of acute abdominal pain. It refers to haemoperitoneum resulting from the rupture of an intra-abdominal vessel without the preceding trauma or underlying pathology. Here, we present the case of a 17-year-old boy with acute abdominal pain. Initially, acute appendicitis was the primary differential diagnosis. Imaging demonstrated a significant volume of intra-abdominal fluid that was haemorrhagic in nature, but no active bleeding or source was identified. A conservative management approach was adopted due to the patient’s clinical improvement during his admission. This case highlights the high index of clinical suspicion required to diagnose and investigate ISIH. In contrast to the historical opinion that stipulates management with a surgical intervention, this case demonstrates the possibility of conservative management in stable patients.