Subcapsular hematoma of the spleen associated with acute pancreatitis

Spontaneous Subcapsular Splenic Hematoma: A Rare Complication of Pancreatitis

Subcapsular hematoma of the spleen is a rare complication of pancreatitis despite its close proximity to the pancreas. Pancreatic pseudocyst involving the tail of the pancreas may erode into the splenic hilum causing hilar vessel bleeding with subcapsular dissection and hematoma formation. The management of such complication is still controversial. It has been suggested that most of these complications spontaneously regress and therefore can be managed conservatively. A case of spontaneous splenic subcapsular hematoma resulting from pancreatitis was managed conservatively with a good outcome.

Large Subcapsular Splenic Hematoma with a Large Pancreatic Pseudocyst Was Successfully Treated with Splenic Arterial Embolization and Ultrasound-Guided Percutaneous Drainage of Pancreatic Pseudocyst

Subcapsular splenic hematoma is a rare complication of pancreatitis. The management for subcapsular splenic hematoma remains controversial. We herein report a case of a large subcapsular splenic hematoma with a large pancreatic pseudocyst, which was successfully treated with splenic arterial embolization and ultrasound- (US-) guided percutaneous drainage of pancreatic pseudocyst, for the first time. A 44-year-old male suffered from recurrent abdominal pain for more than two years. He had previous 3 episodes of pancreatitis. A subcapsular splenic hematoma (16.0 × 16.0 × 7.6 cm) with pancreatic pseudocyst (13.5 × 10.0 × 8.0 cm) was shown on abdominal computed tomography (CT). He underwent splenic arterial embolization to decrease the blood supply of the spleen and then ultrasound-guided percutaneous drainage of the large pancreatic pseudocyst. After 2 weeks, the repeated CT-Abdomen showed the disappearance of pancreatic pseudocyst and multiple areas of infarction on the spleen, while the splenic subcapsular hematoma had also significantly reduced. The patient was discharged after almost a month of his hospital admission with the drainage tube attached, and about 2 weeks later the drainage tube was removed upon CT scan confirmation of decrease in the volume of the subcapsular hematoma. Patient had no abdominal symptoms at the 1.5-year follow-up.

A rare cause of acute abdomen: Splenic hematoma and rupture resulting from pancreatitis

Splenic subcapsular hematoma and splenic rupture due to pancreatitis are rare causes of acute abdomen. Here we report a case of splenic hematoma and rupture resulting from a second attack of pancreatitis in a 38 year-old woman with chronic pancreatitis due to alcoholism. Her first pancreatitis attack, 4 months before the second, was complicated with a pancreatic pseudocyst that was drained and acute renal failure. The patient underwent pancreatic necrosectomy and splenectomy, and was discharged on the sixth postoperative day without any further complication. We conclude that splenic hematoma, a complication of pancreatitis attack, which may require emergency surgical intervention, must be kept in mind in order to make an early diagnosis. Considering a possible subsequent attack of pancreatitis and determining follow-up criteria, radical treatment must be planned immediately.

Unusual presentation of spontaneous splenic haematoma due to severe pancreatitis: a cautionary tale

We report the case of a patient with multiple splenic complications from chronic pancreatitis with pseudocyst formation, including splenic vein thrombosis, subcapsular splenic haematoma and splenic artery pseudoaneurysm. The initial presentation was associated with pleuritic chest pain, clinically resembling symptoms of pulmonary embolism. The patient was treated with therapeutic low-molecular-weight heparin, without confirmatory imaging. However, the latter arranged computed tomographic pulmonary angiogram was negative, while the abdominal sequences of the CT revealed the splenic haematoma as causative pathology. The patient was initially treated conservatively, and discharged from inpatient care. On a subsequent CT, a pseudoaneurysm of the splenic artery was found and treated with coil embolisation. The patient is currently awaiting definitive management of the pancreatic pseudocyst.

Percutaneous drainage of large subcapsular hematoma of the spleen complicating acute pancreatitis

The splenic complications associated with acute or chronic pancreatitis are rare, including splenic vein thrombosis, arterial pseudoaneurysm, subcapsular splenic hematoma, and splenic rupture. The management for subcapsular splenic hematoma in pancreatitis remains controversial. We herein report a rare case of large subcapsular splenic hematoma complicating acute pancreatitis, which was successfully treated by ultrasound-guided percutaneous drainage. A 32-year-old male suffered from intermittent epigastric pain radiating to his back. Acute pancreatitis complicated with subcapsular splenic hematoma (15.0 x 13.0 x 9.5 cm) was shown on abdominal computed tomography (CT). He underwent ultrasound-guided percutaneous drainage of the splenic hematoma. The size of the splenic hematoma had reduced to 9.5 x 2.3 cm 10 days later. After 4-week drainage of the hematoma, the abdominal pain improved and the patient was discharged. Follow-up abdominal CT 6 months later showed that the subcapsular splenic hematoma had almost completely resolved. The post-drainage course was smooth, and the patient had no abdominal symptoms at the 1-year follow-up.

Percutaneous drainage of spontaneous subcapsular haematoma of the spleen complicating chronic pancreatitis

Subcapsular haematoma of the spleen is a rare complication of chronic pancreatitis. In the literature only a handful of cases have been documented. The exact aetiology and natural history of this complication remains speculative and its management controversial. A case of spontaneous subacute haematoma of the spleen in a patient with chronic relapsing alcohol-related pancreatitis was reported. A percutaneous drainage was performed with good outcome. A review of the literature has demonstrated only one previous similar report.