A rare cause of acute abdomen: splenic hematoma and rupture resulting from pancreatitis

Abstract

Splenic subcapsular hematoma and splenic rupture due to pancreatitis is a rare cause of acute abdomen. We report here a case of splenic hematoma and rupture resulting from a newly developing attack of pancreatitis due to drain life of pancreatic pseudocyst which had led to acute renal failure 4 months previously in a 38 year-old woman with chronic pancreatitis due to alcoholism. The patient underwent pancreatic necrosectomy and splenectomy, and was discharged on the 6th postoperative day without complication. We conclude that splenic hematoma, a complication of pancreatitis attack which may require emergency surgical intervention, must be kept in mind in order to make early diagnosis. Considering a possible subsequent attack of pancreatitis and determining follow-up criteria, radical treatment must be planned immediately.

Keywords: Subcapsular splenic hematoma, splenic rupture, pancreatitis, pancreatic pseudocyst

Introduction

Despite the close proximity of the pancreas to the spleen, splenic complications in chronic pancreatitis are rare, with less than 5% of patients requiring surgery for splenic complications [1]. How and when this complication occurs and how it should be treated is not clearly stated in the literature. In this article, a pancreatic pseudocyst, treated previously with percutaneous drainage and followed by a second attack of pancreatitis that required an emergency operation due to splenic hematoma and rupture, eventually causing acute abdomen, is presented and the literature is discussed.

Case Presentation

Thirty-eight-year-old woman was referred to the emergency room with complaints of abdominal pain, nausea, and vomiting. She had a history of chronic alcohol consumption and an attack of acute pancreatitis with acute renal failure 4 months ago. Her abdominal ultrasonography and computed tomography at that time showed a pancreatic pseudocyst, 10x5 cm in size, which was percutaneously drained by interventional radiology. Approximately 175 cc purulent material was drained with no identification on microbiological culture. She was discharged after improvement of her clinical condition without the need for dialysis.

In the intervening period, the patient was asymptomatic and did not comply with her scheduled follow-ups. The patient had no history of trauma. In the emergency department examination, she had tachycardia (120/min), hypotension (70/50 mmHg), abdominal distension and tenderness in all quadrants. Her laboratory findings showed; C- reactive protein (CRP); 30.5 mg/dL, hemoglobin (Hb) 6.6 mm3 , leukocyte count and amylase 17300/mm3 323 U/L. Aspartate transaminase (AST) and alanine aminotransferase (ALT) levels and coagulation tests were within normal limits. On ultrasonography free fluid was seen in the perihepatic, perisplenic area, Morrison and pouch of Douglas with a 120 mm diameter heterogeneous lesion, containing solid and cystic areas. Abdominal CT revealed cystic structures located at the junction of tail and body of the pancreas, the biggest one 6 cm in diameter and heterogeneous fluid collection within the splenic capsule compressing the spleen, and these findings were reported as pancreatitis , pancreatic pseudocyst, splenic hemorrhage with intracapsular and extracapsular components (Figure 1, 2).

Figure 1. Splenic hematoma related to a pancreatic pseudocyst

Figure 2. Intra- and extra-capsular splenic hemorrhage with pancreatitis, pancreatic pseudocyst

Discussion

Splenic subcapsular hematoma and rupture is a rare complication of pancreatitis [2-4]. Malka et al. [1] reported 11 patients (2.2%) with splenic complications in their series of 500 pancreatitis cases, in two of these splenic hematoma (0.4%) were identified and one case (0.2%) required an emergency splenectomy, as in our case. Anatomically, the pancreatic tail, splenic hilum and splenic veins are in close proximity therefore, this complication may be expected in severe pancreatitis. Other possible splenic complications of pancreatitis are; splenic vein thrombosis, arterial pseudoaneurysm, intrasplenic pancreatic pseudocyst, abscess, splenic subcapsular infection, hematoma, necrosis, and splenic rupture and these complications can be seen at rates between 1-5% [1, 5, 6]. Our patient with chronic pancreatitis presented with hemorrhagic shock, abdominal tenderness and elevation of amylase levels. The emergency abdominal CT has identified pancreatitis, pancreatic pseudocyst, subcapsular hematoma and rupture. Diagnosis of splenic complications is important in acute or chronic pancreatitis. For such a diagnosis, first this complication should be considered in patients with a history of pancreatitis, then splenic complications should be suspected in the presence of a left upper quadrant mass, pain radiating to the left shoulder, left pancreatic pleural effusion, a decrease in hemoglobin values, splenic vein occlusion, distal pseudocyst and pancreatic tail necrosis following acute exacerbation [1]. In patients with suspected splenic complications, an emergent abdominal CT should be performed immediately after the initial survey [4, 5, 7].

Knowledge on the etiology of pancreatitis complications is necessary for the determination and follow-up of complications. Possible mechanisms of splenic complications in pancreatitis have been defined as; formation of thrombosis and pseudo-aneurysm in the splenic vein, dissection of pancreatic pseudocysts into the splenic hilum with splenic rupture, splenic infarction, arterial bleeding or venous thrombosis, progression of infectious process from the tail of the pancreas towards the splenic hilum and formation of hematoma [1, 6]. In addition to these local factors, coagulation disorders may also be involved in the pathogenesis of splenic hematoma [8]. In our patient there were no known coagulation disorders, and we believe that the pseudocyst, that was previously drained during a severe pancreatitis episode complicated with acute renal failure, most probably lead to the expansion of inflammation and erosion at the splenic hilum, resulting in a subcapsular hematoma.

The management of splenic subcapsular hematoma associated with pancreatitis is controversial. Observation, percutaneous drainage and surgical treatment are possible options. Arterial embolization that can be used both for diagnosis of etiology or treatment of bleeding should create a splenic infarction area less than 50% of the splenic volume. Its role is limited due to the facts that in the literature it is reported to be associated with splenic abscess in 25% of cases, with only a few numbers of published cases and lacking data on long-term results [9]. In general, conservative approach is preferred for splenic pathologies as much as possible. Splenic complications associated with pancreatitis have been reported to spontaneously regress from 1 week to 4 months [7]. Patel et al. [3] treated a patient with a giant subcapsular splenic hematoma, 11.1x9.5 cm in dimensions, following pancreatitis conservatively and they reported significant resolution of the hematoma in the abdominal CT four months later, and have proposed conservative treatment in hemodynamically stable patients showing clinical improvement. A similar subcapsular splenic hematoma (10x10 cm) that was followed up for 6 weeks did not change in diameter, and it ruptured during the next pancreatitis episode. The authors suggested that splenic hematomas larger than 5 cm following pancreatitis should be percutaneously drained or should be surgically intervened to reduce its pressure in patients without clinical improvement, and that the follow up period should not exceed 6 weeks [10]. In our case any pathology of the spleen was not found and a splenic hematoma was encountered after a period of 4 months. Different from other known complications of the pancreas, the possible formation time of this complication and its treatment algorithm are not clear. We believe management of splenic subcapsular hematoma following pancreatitis with the same parameters as in traumatic or other splenic hematomas is not an appropriate method. As is seen in our case, the risk of splenic rupture should not be ignored before elimination of the etiology. There are case reports that document successful treatment of large splenic hematomas in patients with chronic pancreatitis by percutaneous drainage and thus preventing splenectomy [2, 6, 11]. Percutaneous drainage may be a viable treatment option for splenic subcapsular collections, however hemodynamic stability and infection parameters should be considered in patient selection. A more aggressive approach, early splenectomy, has also been advocated for the treatment of splenic hematoma in order to prevent blood loss and potential splenic rupture [1 , 8, 10]. In addition, it is emphasized that waiting for the resolution of splenic hematoma is risky due to segmental portal hypertension present during the course of chronic pancreatitis [4].

Conclusion

Splenic complications associated with acute and chronic pancreatitis should be kept in mind in emergency practice, should be diagnosed early and followed up closely. The follow-up and treatment of splenic complications should not be similar to the follow-up and treatment of traumatic subcapsular hematoma, follow up criteria must be defined and keeping the next probable pancreatitis attack in mind radical treatment should be planned as soon as possible.

Written informed consent was obtained from patients who participated in this case.

Externally peer-reviewed.

Concept - F.C., S.Y., E.İ.; Design - F.C., S.Y., E.İ.; Data Collection and/or Processing - F.C., S.Y.; Analysis and/or Interpretation - F.C., S.Y.; Writer - F.C.

No conflict of interest was declared by the authors.

The authors declared that this study has received no financial support.

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