title: Death due to hemorrhagic shock after delayed rupture of spleen: a rare phenomenon.
abstract: Delayed splenic rupture after blunt trauma is rare and contributes to a significant mortality rate. As this is accompanied by a period of clinical quiescence, a close clinical vigilance is required for early diagnosis and surgical intervention. A case report on death because of delayed rupture of healthy spleen after blunt trauma is presented. The pathophysiology of delayed rupture and importance of early detection are discussed. The case presented is the first known case of death due to delayed splenic rupture in Sri Lanka.
authors.affiliation: Department of Forensic Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, University of Peradeniya, Sri Lanka. kaskodikara@yahoo.com
authors.forename: Sarathchandra
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Kodikara
mesh_terms: D000058:Accidental Falls; D049429:Forensic Pathology; D006406:Hematoma / Q000473:pathology; D006465:Hemoperitoneum / Q000473:pathology; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012771:Shock, Hemorrhagic / Q000209:etiology*; D013156:Splenectomy; D013161:Splenic Rupture / Q000150:complications* / Q000209:etiology*; D013898:Thoracic Injuries / Q000150:complications / Q000209:etiology; D013997:Time Factors