Splenic abscess after laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy. A rare complication—case report and literature review

Laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy is currently a stand-alone bariatric procedure with a low complication profile. A rare complication of leak following sleeve gastrectomy was reported in this study. Its rareness and nonspecific clinical presentation could make the diagnosis difficult and could be easily confused with leak and subdiaphragmatic abscess. A 22-year-old Saudi female with body mass index 41 underwent laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy in 2017, presented 18 months later to emergency department complaining of fever and abdominal pain for 3 months prior to presentation. Computed tomography of abdomen revealed a large splenic abscess, upper gastrointestinal studies were unremarkable. Patient was taken for laparoscopic exploration with finding of splenic abscess and gastric fistula, splenectomy and clipping of fistula was performed. The management of splenic abscess remains controversial. Splenectomy and antibiotics have generally been the definitive treatment particularly with large multilobulated collection. Familiarity with the rare complications as splenic abscess will allow for a prompt diagnosis and treatment.