Massive and acute hemoperitoneum due to rupture of the uterine artery by erosion from an endometriotic lesion

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.