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IMAJ | volume 26
Journal 8, September 2024
pages: 471-474
Ascites: Not Always the Usual Suspects
1 Zabludowicz Center for Autoimmune Diseases, Sheba Medical Center, Tel Hashomer, Israel
2 Department of Internal Medicine B, Sheba Medical Center, Tel Hashomer, Israel
3 Department of Diagnostic Radiology, Sheba Medical Center, Tel Hashomer, Israel
4 Department of Gynecology, Sheba Medical Center, Tel Hashomer, Israel
5 School of Medicine, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv, Israel
Summary
In this case report, we elucidated the complex etiology of new-onset ascites through the unusual presentation of a 32-year-old female with abdominal swelling, oliguria, and acute renal failure. This patient's ascites was attributed to urinary bladder rupture, a rare but critical consideration in differential diagnoses. Highlighting the significance of this case, bladder rupture without recent trauma history, especially post-gynecological surgery, poses a diagnostic challenge due to its rarity and potential for severe morbidity and mortality if not promptly recognized and managed. Our patient's journey, from initial symptoms to the eventual discovery of bladder rupture, underscores the necessity of considering this diagnosis in similar clinical scenarios. The case uniquely demonstrates pseudo-renal failure, a phenomenon resulting from reversed dialysis across the peritoneal membrane, which further complicated the diagnostic process.