Ruptured spleen following laparoscopic cholecystectomy

BACKGROUND

Laparoscopic cholecystectomy is generally a safe and well-accepted procedure. However, in a small percentage of patients, it is associated with complications, such as bleeding and injury to the bile duct and other viscera. Splenic injury as a result of laparoscopic surgery has been reported only in the context of direct trauma, for example due to retraction in hand-assisted urologic surgery. To date, there have been no reported cases of patients requiring splenectomy following laparoscopic cholecystectomy. We report an unusual case of ruptured spleen presenting less than 28 days following "uncomplicated" laparoscopic cholecystectomy.

RESULTS

A 52-year-old female presented to our Accident and Emergency department 3 weeks following "uncomplicated" laparoscopic cholecystectomy, complaining of severe left upper quadrant pain radiating to the left shoulder tip. Clinical examination revealed a patient in hypovolemic shock, with localized left upper quadrant peritonism. Abdominal computed tomography supported a diagnosis of splenic rupture, and the patient required an emergency splenectomy.

DISCUSSION

Splenic injury rarely complicates laparoscopic cholecystectomy. We postulate that either congenital or posttraumatic adhesions of the parietal peritoneum to the spleen may have caused the capsule to tear away from the spleen when the pneumoperitoneum was established, resulting in subcapsular hematoma and subsequent rupture in this patient. Videoscopic assessment of the spleen at the end of laparoscopic cholecystectomy might be a worthwhile exercise to aid early recognition and management in such cases.

Ruptured spleen: an unusual complication of laparoscopy

INTRODUCTION

Splenic rupture is a well-known complication of open surgery but is much less common at laparoscopic surgery.

CASE OUTLINE

A 45-year-old man underwent laparoscopy for perforated duodenal ulcer. The abdominal cavity was washed out and the ulcer was sutured. He was discharged on the fifth postoperative day but was readmitted because of a sharp pain in the left upper quadrant radiating to the left shoulder. He then developed haemorrhagic shock. Urgent laparotomy revealed a diffuse haemoperitoneum consequent upon a posterior subcapsular haematoma of the spleen.

DISCUSSION

There are four previous case reports of splenic rupture at laparoscopy. In the present case, a posterior subcapsular haematoma arose during lavage of the left subdiaphragmatic area. Such a haematoma is undetectable during laparoscopy.

Spontaneous rupture of malarial spleen: two case reports and review of literature

Malaria has long been among the most common diseases in the southeast Anatolia region of Turkey. In 1992, 18676 cases were diagnosed in Turkey, and Diyarbakir city had the highest incidence (4168 cases), followed by SanliUrfa city (3578 cases). Malaria was especially common during 1994 and 1995, with 84345 and 82094 cases being diagnosed in these years, respectively. Spontaneous rupture of malarial spleen is rare. We saw two cases during 1998, which are reported herein. Both patients were male, and were receiving chloroquine treatment for an acute attack of malaria. One of the patients had developed abdominal pain and palpitations, followed by fainting. The other patient had abdominal pain and fever. Explorative laparotomy revealed an enlarged spleen in both patients. Splenectomy was performed in both patients. We have identified 15 episodes of spontaneous rupture of the spleen in the English language literature published since 1961. Because of increased travel to endemic areas and resistance to antimalarial drugs, malaria is a major medical problem that is becoming increasingly important to surgeons worldwide. Malaria is a particularly important problem in the southeast Anatolia region of Turkey. Prophylactic precautions should be taken by tourists who travel to this region, especially during the summer.