Spontaneous rupture of the spleen at full term during pregnancy: a case report

Spontaneous rupture of the spleen during pregnancy is a rare, fatal disease. This condition is easily misdiagnosed as uterine rupture, placental abruption, or other obstetric diseases; and if a timely diagnosis is not made and effective treatment instituted, serious sequelae rapidly develop, including hemorrhagic shock and maternal and fetal death. Here, we report a case of spontaneous splenic rupture in a woman in her third trimester of pregnancy. Furthermore, through a literature review, we discuss the possible presentations, symptoms, and causes of splenic rupture during pregnancy, in the hope of facilitating the early diagnosis and treatment of this condition.

Severe Complications From Infectious Mononucleosis After Prolonged Steroid Therapy

ABSTRACT

Infectious mononucleosis (IM) is a disease common among adolescents in the United States. Frequently, symptoms include sore throat, malaise, fevers, lymphadenopathy, and abdominal pain. Severe complications have been reported such as splenic rupture, acute upper airway obstruction, hepatitis, acute renal failure, and hematological and neurological complications. The mainstay of treatment is supportive care. Steroids are recommended for impending airway obstruction and hematological complications. However, steroids are commonly used in uncomplicated cases of IM, with insufficient evidence on the efficacy of steroids for symptom control. Furthermore, there is a lack of research on the adverse effects and long-term complications of steroid use for IM. We present a case of an adolescent boy who presented to his primary care physician with symptoms consistent with uncomplicated IM that was treated with a prolonged course of steroids. Subsequently, he developed worsening symptoms, including fevers, headache, vomiting, and left-sided facial swelling. He presented to a pediatric emergency department in decompensated septic shock as a result of polymicrobial bacteremia. During his hospital course, he developed pulmonary septic emboli, a sinus thrombus, an empyema, and orbital cellulitis complicated by Pott puffy tumor. In this case report, we summarize the current literature on steroid treatment of uncomplicated IM and highlight how our case addresses the use and possible complications of prolonged steroid use in uncomplicated IM.

[Ruptured spleen after subarachnoid haemorrhage]

BACKGROUND

Subarachnoid hemorrhage is a severe neurological condition which can cause a broad range of symptoms. Often, these symptoms are the direct consequence of the hemorrhage.

CASE DESCRIPTION

A 58-year-old female was admitted to the emergency department with extreme headache and a sudden and brief loss of consciousness. She was diagnosed with aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage and underwent endovascular treatment. Seven days after admission she developed hypotension, bilateral fixed and dilated pupils and a second sudden and brief loss of consciousness. A CT scan of the brain was unchanged compared to the initial CT scan. An external ventricular drain was placed and the patient was admitted to the ICU where she was diagnosed with hemorrhagic shock due to a ruptured spleen.

CONCLUSION

Bilateral fixed and dilated pupils can in rare cases be caused by hemorrhagic shock due to strong sympathetic activity or parasympathetic inactivity. When a patient presents with loss of consciousness and/or pupil deviation, extracranial diagnoses should be considered after intracranial causes have been excluded.

EBV : not your Everyday Benign Virus

BACKGROUND

Epstein-Barr virus infection is common, with seroprevalence of 90% in adults. Clinical presentation of primary EBV infection can be variable and atypical. It is often subclinical or can result in infectious mononucleosis. Clinical course is mostly benign, but in rare cases serious short- and long-term complications may occur.

CASE PRESENTATION

We present a case of a 19-year-old woman who was admitted to the hospital with general malaise, fever, dyspnea, icterus, vomiting and diarrhea, with acute left upper quadrant pain. She was diagnosed with acute EBV-infection with hepatitis, splenomegaly and spontaneous splenic rupture.

CONCLUSIONS

Spontaneous splenic rupture is an uncommon, but potentially fatal complication of infectious mononucleosis. In a patient with suspicion of EBV infection and abdominal pain, we should always be aware of the possibility of spontaneous splenic rupture and emphasis should be put on appropriate counseling.

Spontaneous Splenic Rupture in a Case of Infectious Mononucleosis

Infectious Mononucleosis is a common viral illness mainly of adolescent-young adult age group. Spontaneous splenic rupture is a rare but potentially fatal complication of Infectious Mononucleosis occurring in less than 0.5 % of the cases. A high index of suspicion especially if abdominal pain develops during Infectious Mononucleosis is very crucial to early diagnosis and intervention in the case of rupture. Here we discuss the case of a 24 year old male with no previous comorbidities and stable vitals who presented with febrile illness of one week duration associated with abdominal discomfort. Even though initial evaluation did not point towards any etiological clues, a CT imaging of the abdomen was opted due to his persistent abdominal symptoms which showed features suggestive of a contained rupture of spleen. The lack of a specific trauma history prompted further workup for an infective etiology and patient was subsequently found to be positive for Epstein Barr Virus antigen and was diagnosed to have Infectious Mononucleosis. Rupture being of lower grades, non-operative management was opted for and patient improved with conservative management over 4-8 weeks with no further complications. We also discuss the internationally accepted grading of splenic injury and the general consensus regarding management of the same. A general search of the available literature showed very few cases of spontaneous splenic rupture in Infectious Mononucleosis being reported especially from India and hence the importance of this case.

Splenic abscess as a rare symptom of the extrapulmonary tuberculosis - case report

INTRODUCTION

Extrapulmonary tuberculosis can involve any organ or tissue. It is a rare disease in the Czech Republic with an incidence rate of 0.62 cases per 100.000 persons. It affects mostly immunocompromised patients. The most common sites include lymph nodes, the urogenital system, skin, joints, bones and serous epithelium - the peritoneum, pleura, and pericardium. Splenic involvement is rare. Mycobacterium is a slow growing intracellular parasite. The diagnostic process is very difficult; microbiological diagnosis is critical.

CASE REPORT

An 84 years old female patient with subcapsular splenic rupture with no trauma history as a cause of anemia. Splenic abscess was diagnosed during surgical revision and splenectomy. Tuberculosis was suspected based on subsequent histological analysis, which was confirmed after nine weeks of peritoneal fluid culture. The surgical procedure and postoperative hospitalization were not associated with any complications. The patient was referred to the respiratory clinic for further treatment.

CONCLUSION

The diagnosis of extrapulmonary tuberculosis including splenic localization should always be considered. A sample from the affected tissue or effusion must be collected in the case of unclear perioperative findings and sent for complete bacteriological testing, including mycobacterial culture. If a tuberculous splenic abscess is found, the therapeutic process should involve its complete drainage in combination with long-term anti-TB medication.

An unusual case of repeated splenectomy: traumatic rupture of an accessory spleen in a previously splenectomized patient

The traumatic rupture of an accessory spleen is a very rare condition and only few cases have been reported in the literature. We describe the case of a 51-year-old man undergone splenectomy for trauma several years before, who developed hemoperitoneum due to a laceration of a voluminous accessory spleen, following an accidental two-meter fall. As a conservative management of the injury was not possible, an accessory splenectomy was then required. Thus, a briefly review of the literature about this uncommon topic was perfomed.

KEY WORDS

Accessory spleen, Laparotomy, Trauma.

Successful conservative and endoscopic treatment of pancreatic fistula due to splenectomy following blunt abdominal trauma

Pancreatic fistula most commonly occur as a consequence of resective procedures and pseudocyst drainage, and rarely as a consequence of splenectomy. Conservative treatment can have good results, but it is long lasting and demands long hospitalization. In case of conservative treatment failure, operative treatment is indicated, but this has significantly higher percentage of morbidity and mortality. In selected cases, conservative treatment with somatostatine or octreotide, along with endoscopic procedure including the use of fibrin glue, significantly accelerates sanation of the fistula and reduces the length of hospitalization. We report a case of exterior pancreatic fistula due to splenectomy following blunt abdominal trauma, which were successfully treated with conservative (infusion, antibiotics, enteral nutrition, and octreotide) and endoscopic therapy. During ERCP papillotomy was performed, and good external drainage using drainage catheter was important in the patient outcome. Considering the initial secretion of 300 mL/24 h, our patient had a high output fistula. Despite that, fistula was quickly resolved after treatment. Our opinion is that octreotide therapy and unobstructed drainage of pancreatic duct into the duodenum were the most important in the rapid resolution of the fistula.

[Traumatic jejuno-ileal ruptures: apropos of 18 cases at the Central Hospital of Yaounde]

Eighteen blunt small bowel traumas were reviewed in this retrospective study (1986-1996) concerning 12.8% of laparotomies for blunt abdominal trauma. The clinical presentation at admission was peritonitis (9 cases) or hemoperitoneum (4 cases) whereas 5 cases were diagnosed lately because of non specific signs at the beginning. All patients underwent surgery: simple suture or suture after excision of edges (12 cases); resection anastomosis (6 cases). There were no post-operative complications in most of the cases. The mortality rate was 5%. Blunt small bowel traumas are not frequent in our practice. Their diagnostic is often per-operative. If the clinical signs of intraperitoneal lesion are not present, a clinical follow-up by repeated and thorough physical examination can permit an early diagnosis. The surgical treatment is simple, and the prognosis more linked to severe associated lesions than the bowel lesion.

Subcutaneous splenosis: a clue to diagnosis of thoracic splenosis

We describe a unique case of combined thoracic and subcutaneous splenosis.

Blastic mantle cell leukemia: a previously undescribed form

The leukemic phase of mantle cell lymphoma (mantle cell leukemia) is defined as an absolute lymphocyte count of greater than 4,000/microliter and characterized by the presence of relatively small, slightly irregular lymphocytes in the peripheral blood. Although a variant of mantle cell lymphoma with blastic morphsology exists and has been previously well described, a blastic morphologic variant of mantle cell leukemia has not been described. We report such a case in a 74-year-old male who presented with splenic rupture and an elevated white blood cell (WBC) count. The diagnosis was based on flow cytometric immunophenotyping and the cytomorphology of the peripheral blood.

Long-term venous access using endogenous splenic tissue: the 'spleen-o-port'

The authors sought to determine whether endogenous splenic tissue placed in a subcutaneous pouch ("spleen-o-port") could function as a viable alternative to central venous catheters/ports for long-term venous access. A small transverse incision was made in the left upper quadrant of each puppy (n = 6) under general anesthesia. Using a stapler, the authors divided the splenic parenchyma. The superior portion was returned to its native location, and a subcutaneous pocket was created to house the inferior pole with its attached vascular supply. The fascial and muscular layers were closed with care to avoid compressing the blood supply to the spleen-o-port. Postoperatively the dogs resumed normal activity. There have been no deaths, infectious complications, splenic ruptures, or thromboses over a 6-month period. Under fluoroscopy, the dogs were imaged from postoperative day (POD) 10 to 177. Contrast agent entering the splenic parenchyma was promptly visualized in the splenic vein and then filled the portal vein. Electrolyte measurements from spleen-o-port blood samples were identical to those from peripheral venous samples. After gentamicin (mixed in a crystalloid solution) was infused through the spleen-o-port, the peak serum level corresponded to the therapeutic levels observed after standard intravenous administration. The spleen-o-port permits rapid infusion of drugs and crystalloid, and allows repetitive blood sampling while eliminating the foreign body that can promote septicemia in the immunocompromised patient.

Abdominal trauma: a report of 129 cases

A retrospective study of 129 cases of abdominal trauma admitted to a district general hospital over the 8 years 1964-71 is reported. Road traffic accidents accounted for 60% of the cases and had a much higher mortality than domestic or industrial accidents.

Laparotomy was carried out in eighty-eight patients, but two patients with a ruptured abdominal viscus died without operation because the diagnosis was not recognized.

There were seventy-four cases of renal injury of which thirty-nine were treated conservatively and thirty-four were explored through a laparotomy incision. The indication for urgent operation in every case was the suspicion of an associated intraperitoneal injury and in all but three this was confirmed. Only one injured kidney was explored through the loin after an interval. Nephrectomy was carried out in eight cases (11%).

The commonest finding at laparotomy was rupture of the spleen, of which there were fifty-three cases. Major hepatic injuries and rupture of the duodenum carried a very high mortality. In all four cases of retroperitoneal rupture of the duodenum there was a delay in diagnosis of at least 24 hr due to the late onset of physical signs.

The overall mortality of patients with proved rupture of an abdominal viscus was 17% but in twenty patients (22%) there was a delay in diagnosis and this group carried a 30% mortality.

A diagnostic peritoneal tap was carried out in only fifteen cases, but in nine (60%) gave a false negative result.

The place of diagnostic peritoneal lavage in the management of abdominal trauma is discussed.