Splenic rupture secondary of colonoscopy

Splenic Injury: A Curious Complication of Colonoscopy

Colonoscopies are generally considered a safe procedure with an overall complication rate of 0.5%. Splenic injuries, including laceration, subcapsular hematoma, and rupture, have been thought to be underreported in the currently available literature. The etiology of splenic injury remains unknown, although excessive splenocolic ligament stretching and traction of adhesions have been hypothesized to play a role in its development. Even though conservative, percutaneous, and surgical strategies have been described in the literature, these strategies have been associated with higher mortality, and there is no consensus on the optimal approach to management. We present the case of a patient who sustained a splenic injury after a colonoscopy and was successfully managed with conservative measures.

Splenic rupture after colonoscopy for colorectal cancer screening

Colonoscopy is a frequently used procedure in our environment for the diagnosis, treatment and even prevention of colorectal cancer. Despite being a routine procedure, it is not exempt from possible complications. Bleeding and perforation are the main ones, with splenic rupture being extremely infrequent as well as one of the most serious complications derived from performing a colonoscopy. We present a patient with splenic rupture secondary to colorectal cancer screening colonoscopy who required urgent surgery for acute hemorrhagic shock.