Ruptured spontaneous splenic artery aneurysm: A case report and review of the literature

INTRODUCTION: Splenic artery aneurysm is a rare condition, however, potentially fatal. The importance of splenic artery aneurysm lies in the risk for rupture and life threatening hemorrhage. PRESENTATION OF CASE: This is a case of a ruptured splenic artery aneurysm in a 58-year-old lady. She presented with hypovolemic shock and intra-peritoneal bleeding. Diagnosis was confirmed by CT angiography and she was managed by operative ligation of the aneurysm with splenectomy and distal pancreatectomy. DISCUSSION: The literature pointed the presence of some risk factors correlating to the development of splenic artery aneurysm. In this article we discuss a rare case of spontaneous (idiopathic) splenic artery aneurysm and review the literature of this challenging surgical condition. CONCLUSION: Splenic artery aneurysm needs prompt diagnosis and management to achieve a favorable outcome, high index of suspicion is needed to make the diagnosis in the absence of known risk factors.