RECTUS SHEATH HAEMATOMA IN PREGNANCY MASQUERADING AS DEGENERATING UTERINE FIBROID

Rectus sheath haematoma is an uncommon condition characterized by acute abdominal pain and the appearance of an abdominal wall mass which leads to diagnostic dilemma in pregnant women. Here a case report of a 32 years old patient, a G4P3L3, a post caesarean pregnancy with 28 weeks gestation who presented with painless bleeding per vaginum. After stabilisation and sonological evaluation she was diagnosed as a case of placenta praevia with degenerating fibroid and was managed conservatively. Emergency Caesarean Section was performed for uncontrolled bleeding per vaginum at 32 weeks which revealed a 20x30 cm rectus sheath haematoma in the anterior abdominal wall. Mother recovered well. Both mother and child were discharged in good health. Rectus sheath haematoma can mimic many other clinical conditions and high index of suspicion should be maintained by the clinician to identify this highly masquerading and potentially manageable entity