Intraabdominal bleeding from variceal vessels in cirrhosis.

A cirrhotic patient with hemoperitoneum was found, at laparotomy, to be bleeding from variceal vessels in the peritoneum lateral to the ascending colon. Radiological in vestigations before surgery did not identify the source of blood loss. Despite hemostasis being obtained, the patient died postoperatively. The 5 previously reported cases of intraabdominal bleeding from variceal vessels are reviewed.