Atraumatic splenic rupture as a complication of acute exacerbation of chronic pancreatitis, an unusual disease

Rev Esp Enferm Dig. 2017 Jun;109(6):477-478. doi: 10.17235/reed.2017.4597/2016.

Abstract

We report the case of a patient with acute exacerbation of chronic pancreatitis and he suffered an atraumatic splenic rupture. Splenic rupture not associated with trauma is a rare entity that can occurs in normal spleen (spontaneous) or damaged spleen (pathological). This entity may be associated with local inflammatory processes, such as pancreatitis. Ultrasound is a non-invasive technique which is used in unstable patients. CT is useful for making a diagnosis of extension in patients with hemodynamic stability. Atraumatic splenic rupture as a complication of chronic pancreatitis is an unusual disease that requires a high index of suspicion which allows us an early diagnosis because it is a treatable entity that compromises the patient's life.

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • Alcoholism / complications
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Pancreatitis, Chronic / complications*
  • Pancreatitis, Chronic / diagnostic imaging
  • Rupture, Spontaneous
  • Splenic Rupture / diagnostic imaging
  • Splenic Rupture / etiology*
  • Tomography, X-Ray Computed
  • Ultrasonography