[Ruptured aortic aneurysm presenting as acute abdomen: particular case report]

AIM Ruptured aortic aneurysm can be a cause of acute abdomen. Nowadays using modern diagnostic techniques diagnosis is very easy. We report a particular case of a misdiagnosed ruptured aortic aneurysm. CASE REPORT Man 65 y.o. admitted to hospital for abdominal pain and stipsis. After 1 week he developed acute abdomen with muscular rigidity and mild acute anemia. Few days before contrast studies showed a sigmoid diverticular disease. At laparotomy a ruptured aortic aneurysm sealed from retroperitoneal fascia and extended to abdominal walls up to rectus abdominis muscles was found. CONCLUSIONS In case of acute abdomen with muscular rigidity and acute anemia the diagnosis of rectus abdominis muscles hematoma caused by ruptured aortic aneurysm must be considered.