Coital injury presenting in a 13 year old as abdominal pain and vaginal bleeding

Abstract

This 13-year-aid girl presented with a four-day history of increasing lower abdominal pain associated with heavy vaginal bleeding which was now resolving. Her last normal menstrual period was 19 days before this incident, with a history of regular periods. Repeated questioning revealed a history of the patient engaging, for the first time, in consensual sexual intercourse one day prior to the onset of complaints. The abdominal examination revealed mild lower abdominal tenderness without rigidity or guarding. The pelvic examination failed to reveal any active bleeding, laceration, or findings suggestive of pelvic inflammatory disease. Routine laboratory studies revealed an elevated white cell count. As the patient's pain worsened over the next two to three hours, surgical and obstetric-gynecologic consultations were made, and both services advised overnight observation. Over the next 12 hours her abdominal examination revealed increased rigidity, and the patient was taken to the operating room with the a preoperative diagnosis of ruptured appendix. On exploratory laparotomy a hemoperitoneum was found, and approximately 600 ml of blood were suctioned from the peritoneal cavity. A 2- cm posterior vaginal wall laceration was subsequently repaired and a normal appendix removed.