Emergency splenectomy for spontaneous splenic rupture: case report from Adama Hospital Medical College, Ethiopia

Introduction: Splenic rupture can be traumatic or non-traumatic (spontaneous). The spleen is the commonest solid organ injured in blunt abdominal injury. Spontaneous splenic rupture (SSR) is a rare cause of acute abdomen however it can lead to morbidity and mortality. Most patients with SSR have underlying splenic disease from various causes, including mechanical, hematologic, infectious, and inflammatory. Rarely, idiopathic cases, those in which no splenic disease has been found, can occur. While angioembolization has been reported in few cases, splenectomy is the primary treatment for ruptured spleens. Case presentation: Here, we present a case report of 38-year-old female patient who presented with abdominal pain of 2 days duration with signs of generalized peritonitis. Up on exploratory laparotomy, there was signification intra-peritoneal blood with peri-splenic clot which was evacuated and splenectomy done. Patient transfused with cross-match blood. The patient was discharged improved and she took pentavalent vaccine after 2 weeks. Conclusion: Although SSR is rare, one has to consider it as differential diagnosis in patient who presented with acute abdomen.