Health Dictionary
Reliable, easy-to-read patient information on common medical conditions — written in plain language, free of jargon, and grounded in current evidence. Browse the most frequent diagnoses, understand what they mean for everyday life, and learn which steps and questions help you have a focused conversation with your doctor.
Rectus sheath hematoma
Introduction
A rectus sheath hematoma is an accumulation of blood in the sheath of the rectus abdominis muscle. It causes a painful abdominal mass. The hematoma may be caused by either rupture of one of the epigastric arteries or by a muscular tear. Causes of this include anticoagulation, coughing, pregnancy, abdominal surgery and trauma. Most hematomas resolve without treatment, but they may take several months to resolve.
A rectus sheath hematoma can develop following an intramuscular (IM) injection with an antithrombotic agent such as enoxaparin.
Editor-In-Chief: C. Michael Gibson, M.S., M.D. [1]