Case Report of Hemoperitoneum from Discal Hemorrhage

We report a case of hemoperitoneum arising from a ruptured lumbar intervertebral disc in a 30-year-old male patient with a history of epilepsy, chronic alcohol use, and smoking. Though treated surgically, the patient's neurological deficits did not recover fully due to the prolonged compressive effect of blood clots in the peritoneal cavity. This case highlights the dangers of risk factors, non-adherence, and diagnostic delays in complex spinal patients. Close monitoring, multidisciplinary management, and health-promoting lifestyle changes are essential to optimizing outcomes and minimizing catastrophic complications. Strict compliance with medical advice and immediate reporting of concerning symptoms can save lives by enabling prompt diagnosis and emergency care. Though spinal injuries themselves result in a high burden of disability and poor quality of life, avoidable factors substantially worsen prognosis and recovery. We aim to emphasize through this report the critical importance of mitigating threats to management and optimizing the limited benefits of treatment. Teamwork across specialties is required, from physicians and surgeons to rehabilitation specialists, patients, and families. Alcohol/tobacco cessation and long term compliance with medication/follow-up plans are mandatory even after the acute threat has passed. This case sparks increased awareness of the life-and-death consequences of non-adherence, risk taking, and diagnostic delays in the complex patients who compromise a crucial yet vulnerable segment of the population. With diligence, catastrophic complications can be prevented, but close monitoring remains crucial lifelong.