Syndrome of the rectus abdominis muscle mimicking the acute abdomen

The syndrome of the rectus abdominis muscle is a disorder of unknown etiology that produces rupture or tear of the epigastric artery, and stretches the rectus cutaneous medialis nerve, producing excruciating pain. The disorder is misdiagnosed in 60% to 93% of cases. We report two cases that presente...

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Bibliographic Details
Published inAnnals of emergency medicine Vol. 14; no. 7; pp. 694 - 695
Main Authors Hughes, George S, Treadwell, Edward L, Miller, Jeffrey
Format Journal Article
LanguageEnglish
Published New York, NY Mosby, Inc 01.01.1985
Elsevier
Subjects
Abdomen
Abdomen, Acute - diagnosis
Abdominal Muscles - physiopathology
Adult
Biological and medical sciences
Diagnosis, Differential
Female
Gastroenterology. Liver. Pancreas. Abdomen
Humans
Lidocaine - therapeutic use
Male
Medical sciences
Middle Aged
Other diseases. Semiology
rectus abdominis muscle
Syndrome
syndromes
trauma
trauma
syndromes
rectus abdominis muscle
Acute abdomen
Differential diagnostic
Rectus abdominis muscle
Hematoma
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Summary:The syndrome of the rectus abdominis muscle is a disorder of unknown etiology that produces rupture or tear of the epigastric artery, and stretches the rectus cutaneous medialis nerve, producing excruciating pain. The disorder is misdiagnosed in 60% to 93% of cases. We report two cases that presented as acute abdomen. One helpful diagnostic test was the lidocaine test, accomplished by subcutaneous injection of lidocaine into the sheath of the rectus abdominis muscle near the rectus cutaneous medialis nerve; the procedure provided immediate pain relief and the patients remained asymptomatic. In addition to helping establish a diagnosis quickly the lidocaine test may spare the patient the unnecessary morbidity or mortality of more invasive procedures.
ISSN:0196-0644
1097-6760
DOI:10.1016/S0196-0644(85)80891-X