Ovarian hemorrhage with hemoperitoneum leads to complication of oral treatment using indirect anticoagulant administered by the oral route.

Introduction, - Ovarian hemorrhage with hemoperitoneum is a rare but seriou s complication of ovulation related to rupture of either the corpus luteum or functional cyst, It is due to treatment using oral indirect anticoagulan t and specifically affects young women, Current knowledge and key points, - We review cases that were reported sinc e the initial description by Weseley in 1957 The main indications for oral indirect anticoagulant are thrombophlebitis and valvular cardiac prosthesis . Pelvic pain with peritoneal irritation is the most common symptom in more than one third of the patients. An initial collapse is reported in 22% of the cases, Surgery is the main treatment. Mortality is 3% and recurrences o ccur in nearly 25% of the patients, Future prospects and projects, - Potential ovarian hemorrhage should be inv estigated when a woman taking oral indirect anticoagulant develops acute ab dominal pain. Surgery should be conservative and whenever possible, should include celioscopy Systematic ovarian blockade should be discussed in women taking long-term oral indirect anticoagulant. (C) 2000 Editions scientifiq ues et medicales Elsevier SAS.