Wandering Spleen. A Case of Spontaneous Hemoperitoneum in an HIV-positive Patient with Recurrent Tuboovarian Abscess.

BACKGROUND

Wandering spleen is a rare and potentially devastating condition that can present in a variety of ways. Here we present a case that led to acute abdomen and hemoperitoneum in a young woman.

CASE: A 27-year-old woman with a history of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), pelvic inflammatory disease, and tuboovarian abscess was readmitted to the hospital for intravenous antibiotic treatment. When her clinical picture did not improve, she underwent placement of a pelvic drain for abscess drainage. Overnight she developed an acute abdomen and hemorrhagic shock. She was taken to the operating room for an exploratory laparotomy, which revealed a ruptured spleen with a single, elongated vascular pedicle.

CONCLUSION

Wandering spleen is a rare diagnosis, more common in reproductive-aged women, with potentially fatal complications. It is a necessary component of a differential diagnosis for acute abdomen in reproductive-aged women.