title: Splenic rupture after colonoscopy. A case report and review of the literature.
abstract: Rupture of the spleen after colonoscopy is a rare but dangerous complication; up to now only a few cases have been reported in the literature. This complication is more frequent in patients who have previously undergone abdominal surgery and after operative colonoscopies. This case report describes a 64-year-old man who complained of abdominal pain and dyspnoea some hours after a colonoscopy. Laboratory exams showed anaemia; the patient also developed hypotension and tachycardia; a CT scan revealed a splenic laceration with haemoperitoneum. A laparotomic splenectomy was successfully carried out.
authors.affiliation: SC di Chirurgia Generale, Azienda Ospedaliera Carlo Poma, Mantova.
authors.forename: Francesco
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Di Lecce
authors.forename: Paolo
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Viganò
authors.forename: Stefano
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Pilati
authors.forename: Nicola
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Mantovani
authors.forename: Thomas
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Togliani
authors.forename: Coriolano
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Pulica
mesh_terms: D015746:Abdominal Pain / Q000209:etiology; D003113:Colonoscopy / Q000009:adverse effects*; D004417:Dyspnea / Q000209:etiology; D006465:Hemoperitoneum / Q000209:etiology*; D006801:Humans; D007022:Hypotension / Q000209:etiology; D007813:Laparotomy; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D013156:Splenectomy; D013161:Splenic Rupture / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000209:etiology* / Q000601:surgery; D013610:Tachycardia / Q000209:etiology; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed