# A case report of splenic rupture related to colonoscopy

## TL;DR

This case report details a rare but serious complication of colonoscopy where a patient experienced a splenic rupture requiring emergency surgery.

## Contribution

The report highlights the importance of considering splenic injury in patients with post-colonoscopy abdominal pain.

## Key findings

- The patient presented with symptoms of splenic rupture seven hours after a routine colonoscopy.
- CT imaging confirmed a ruptured spleen with significant internal bleeding.
- Emergency splenectomy was successful and the patient recovered without complications.

## Abstract

Splenic rupture is a rare but serious iatrogenic complication of colonoscopy, potentially leading to hemodynamic instability. When common complications such as post-polypectomy syndrome and perforation are excluded, physicians must maintain a high level of suspicion for splenic injury, particularly in patients presenting with abdominal pain after the procedure. This report describes an emergency splenectomy performed on an 80-year-old male following a routine colonoscopy. Seven hours of post-procedure, the patient presented abdominal pain, syncope, sweating, and hypotension. Computed tomography imaging revealed a ruptured spleen with a 7-cm parenchymal hematoma, a significant blood halo surrounding the liver, and a large blood accumulation in the pelvis. The patient underwent an emergency splenectomy and was discharged 6 days later without complications.