title: Splenic tear causing a hemoperitoneum after cardiac surgery.
abstract: Hemoperitoneum after cardiac surgery is a very rare but life-threatening complication. We have only found a few cases described in the literature, in which the intra-abdominal hemorrhages were caused by liver bleeding, due to direct hepatic trauma or spontaneous hepatic rupture. We describe the first case of hemoperitoneum caused by a spontaneous rupture of the spleen.
authors.affiliation: Division of Cardiac Surgery, Papardo Hospital, Contrada Sperone 98120, Messina, Italy. ceresa77@hotmail.com
authors.forename: Fabrizio
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Ceresa
authors.forename: Giuseppe
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Franciò
authors.forename: Pasquale
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Aldo Intili
authors.forename: Francesco
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Patanè
mesh_terms: D006348:Cardiac Surgical Procedures / Q000009:adverse effects*; D017809:Fatal Outcome; D005260:Female; D054092:Foramen Ovale, Patent / Q000601:surgery*; D006465:Hemoperitoneum / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000209:etiology* / Q000601:surgery; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D013156:Splenectomy; D013161:Splenic Rupture / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000209:etiology* / Q000601:surgery; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed; D016896:Treatment Outcome