Korean J Leg Med.  2012 May;36(1):107-110. 10.7580/KoreanJLegMed.2012.36.1.107.

Hemoperitoneum Resulting From Injuries to Liver with a Benign Vascular Tumor During Acupuncture: A Case Report

• Park S
• Lee HY

• KMID: 2250326
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.7580/KoreanJLegMed.2012.36.1.107

Abstract

Various complications following acupuncture have been reported. In most cases, complications occur from the close apposition of vital organs and acupuncture sites. These complications can be avoided if acupuncturists are trained in appropriate medical science such as anatomy. However, our case is somewhat different from the norm. The deceased received acupuncture on the abdomen, provided by an acupuncturist. Unexpected symptoms occurred suddenly and she was transported to a hospital where she died of hemoperitoneum. On the postmortem examination, a well-defined vascular tumor was identified on the front of the liver, which was also cirrhotic; a few localized injuries were identified on the cystic wall of the tumor and surrounding liver parenchyma. We assumed these injuries were complications of acupuncture. Therefore, we present this case to suggest that acupuncturists should be educated to be vigilant for complications following treatment to reduce the risk of these tragedies.

Keyword

acupuncture; autopsy

MeSH Terms

Abdomen
Acupuncture
Autopsy
Hemoperitoneum
Liver

Figure

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  Fig. 1. A small red spot assumed to be an acupuncture needle mark is identified on between the epigastric area and the umbilical area.

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  Fig. 2. A well defined and collapsed cystic mass is identified on the front of the liver which is nearly located between the epigastric and the umbilical areas.

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  Fig. 3. 2 small localized injuries are spotted on the cystic wall of the mass and the hepatic parenchyma near the mass (close to the border of the mass).

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  Fig. 4. The cutsurface shows a tract with local hemorrhage and it is connected with the localized injury on the hepatic parenchyma near the mass.

Reference

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