title: Severe meningococcal septicaemia associated with splenic rupture.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To present the first report of ruptured spleen associated with meningococcal septicaemia.
  
  
  METHODS
  A 13-year-old girl presented with an acute abdomen and clinical signs of meningococcal septicaemia. Features of her illness placed her in a high mortality group.
  
  
  RESULTS
  She required cardiovascular and respiratory support in the Intensive Care Unit. Failure to initially identify the organism led to percutaneous fine-needle aspiration of fluid in the lesser sac. A laparotomy revealed free intraperitoneal blood and a ruptured spleen. During the course of her illness she was given penicillin and methylprednisolone, and required haemodialysis. She made a complete recovery.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Ruptured spleen does occur with severe meningococcaemia, and may complicate management.
authors.affiliation: Intensive Care Unit, Adelaide Children's Hospital, North Adelaide, SA.
authors.forename: M D
authors.initials: MD
authors.lastname: Buist
authors.forename: R G
authors.initials: RG
authors.lastname: Power
authors.forename: S R
authors.initials: SR
authors.lastname: Keeley
authors.forename: N T
authors.initials: NT
authors.lastname: Matthews
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008589:Meningococcal Infections / Q000150:complications*; D012422:Rupture, Spontaneous; D018805:Sepsis / Q000150:complications*; D013161:Splenic Rupture / Q000209:etiology*