Rupture of a splenic artery aneurysm in the first trimester of pregnancy.

BACKGROUND

Rupture of a splenic artery aneurysm during pregnancy is a rare and serious event, occurring mainly during the third trimester. The risk of rupture for an existing splenic artery aneurysm is very high during pregnancy (from 20% to 50%). When it does rupture, the maternal mortality rate is around 75% and the fetal mortality rate 95%. Of 110 cases reported in the literature, only one ruptured during the first trimester.

OBJECTIVES

The aim of this case report is to make emergency physicians aware of this diagnosis, because only if it is considered can it be managed rapidly and appropriately.

CASE REPORT: We report the case of a 6-weeks pregnant patient referred to our institution in hemorrhagic shock who died of a ruptured splenic artery aneurysm shortly after surgery. The initial diagnosis considered was a ruptured ectopic pregnancy.

CONCLUSION

We report this case to increase awareness of splenic artery rupture during pregnancy, even during the first trimester.