Can Contrast-Enhanced Ultrasonography Document Both an Iatrogenic Bleeding and the Stop of the Bleeding? A Case Report

Abstract

Ultrasonography-guided percutaneous drainage is an effective and safe procedure to treat abdominal fluid collections. However, bleeding complications can sometimes occur. Ultrasonography can document the presence of hematomas, but it cannot detect whether the bleeding is still ongoing. Contrast-enhanced ultrasonography has been reported to enable the detection of active extravasation and is increasingly used when active abdominal bleeding is suspected. In this case report, contrast-enhanced ultrasonography played a key role not only in the depiction of active bleeding following the percutaneous drainage of a tubo-ovarian abscess, but also in the real-time demonstration of the spontaneous stop of the bleeding, suggesting that it can play at least an intermediate role between ultrasonography and contrast-enhanced computed tomography.