abdominal apoplexy
ab·dom·i·nal ap·o·plex·y
abdominal apoplexy
(1) A hoary term for intra- or retroperitoneal haemorrhage secondary to intestinal infarction or a ruptured aortic aneurysm, resulting in acute haemoperitoneum. Small amounts of blood in the peritoneum produce hyperosmolar irritation when RBCs lyse; when a visceral artery ruptures (splenic artery more often than hepatic) the irritation becomes clinically important, causing acute ‘peritonitis’, abdominal pain, decreased bowel sounds, increased WBCs.(2) Mesenteric infarction (or other massive "event" affecting the vascular supply of the mesenteric vascular system).