Objective: To report a case of acute hemoperitoneum due to erosion of the uterine artery by an endometriotic lesion of the left ovary.
Design: Case report and review of literature.
Setting: University medical center.
Patient(s): A 39-year-old nulliparous woman with stage 3 endometriosis.
Intervention(s): Operative laparoscopy followed by laparotomy, oophorectomy, and ligation of the bleeding uterine artery.
Result(s): Patient is fully recovered and is attempting to conceive.
Conclusion(s): An endometriotic lesion eroded the wall of the uterine artery, causing massive, acute hemoperitoneum. Such an event may be overlooked during laparotomy and attributed to the trauma of surgery.