A rare case of splenobronchial fistula formation post-embolisation therapy following acute blunt trauma

We present the case of a 26-year-old male who was referred to the Emergency department with frank haemoptysis, fever and abdominal pain. He had suffered from an acute splenic rupture secondary to blunt abdominal trauma 3 weeks previously, when he was treated with transfemoral embolisation therapy. On this previous admission his splenic injury was initially not detected owing to CT scanning technique focussed on imaging the thorax rather than the abdomen. On readmission, the initial chest X-ray pointed towards a likely pneumonia or empyema. However, upon CT scanning, the cause was found to be a splenic abscess that had extended through the diaphragm, pleura and entered the bronchial space, forming a ‘splenobronchial’ fistula. This is a rare complication of splenic artery embolisation. The aim of this case report is to raise awareness of the complications that acute trauma and embolisation therapy may cause.