Atraumatic splenic rupture secondary to appendicular perforation by cecal volvulus

Cir Cir. 2019;87(2):211-214. doi: 10.24875/CIRU.18000373.

Abstract

Atraumatic splenic rupture, an infrequent surgical emergency, constitutes a life-threatening situation. The lack of a traumatic background makes it difficult to suspect. We present a case of a 45-year-old woman, with history of bariatric surgery, referred to our emergency due to 3 weeks long abdominal and lumbar pain, in shock. Imaging diagnosis of splenic rupture, emergent surgery was performed with atypical findings and good evolution. The bibliographic review, background and surgical findings allowed to postulate causality in this unusual presentation. Despite its low frequency, this pathology involves significant mortality and must be present in the patient in shock in the emergency room.

La rotura esplénica atraumática, una emergencia quirúrgica infrecuente, constituye una situación de riesgo vital. La falta de antecedente traumático dificulta su sospecha. Presentamos el caso de una mujer de 45 años, con antecedente de cirugía bariátrica, remitida a nuestro servicio de urgencias por dolor abdominal y lumbar de 3 semanas, en shock. Con el diagnóstico imagenológico de rotura esplénica, se realizó cirugía emergente, con hallazgos atípicos, y la paciente tuvo una buena evolución. La revisión bibliográfica, los antecedentes y los hallazgos quirúrgicos permitieron postular la causalidad en esta inusual presentación. Pese a su poca frecuencia, esta patología comporta una mortalidad importante y debe tenerse presente ante un paciente en shock en la sala de urgencias.

Keywords: Abdomen; Apendicitis; Appendicitis; Bazo; Intestinal volvulus; Rotura espontánea; Spleen; Spontaneous rupture; Vólvulo intestinal.

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • Abdominal Abscess / diagnostic imaging
  • Appendix / diagnostic imaging
  • Appendix / injuries*
  • Cecal Diseases / complications*
  • Cecal Diseases / diagnostic imaging
  • Emergencies
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Intestinal Volvulus / complications*
  • Intestinal Volvulus / diagnostic imaging
  • Middle Aged
  • Rupture, Spontaneous / diagnostic imaging
  • Rupture, Spontaneous / etiology
  • Splenic Diseases / diagnostic imaging
  • Splenic Rupture / diagnostic imaging
  • Splenic Rupture / etiology*