title: Spleen rupture after mitral valve replacement for infective endocarditis.
abstract: We present a case of splenic rupture as the cause of a sudden drop in blood pressure soon after mitral valve surgery for infective endocarditis. This case suggests that, in addition to more common causes of unstable vital signs after valvular surgery, such as cardiac tamponade or bleeding at the operation site, splenic rupture, although rare, should be considered in the differential diagnosis. This is particularly important in the case of infective endocarditis.
authors.affiliation: Department of Anesthesiology, Far-Eastern Memorial Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan, ROC.
authors.forename: Mei-Hui
authors.initials: MH
authors.lastname: Yang
authors.forename: Chia-Chan
authors.initials: CC
authors.lastname: Wu
authors.forename: Wei-Horng
authors.initials: WH
authors.lastname: Jean
authors.forename: Cheng-Wei
authors.initials: CW
authors.lastname: Lu
authors.forename: Yueh-Hsun
authors.initials: YH
authors.lastname: Chuang
authors.forename: Tzu-Yu
authors.initials: TY
authors.lastname: Lin
mesh_terms: D004696:Endocarditis / Q000601:surgery*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D008943:Mitral Valve / Q000601:surgery*; D011183:Postoperative Complications / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000209:etiology* / Q000601:surgery; D011859:Radiography; D013161:Splenic Rupture / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000209:etiology* / Q000601:surgery