Spontaneous (atraumatic) splenic rupture complicating anticoagulant treatment for splenic infarction.

We report the case of a 61-year-old male patient who suffered a spontaneous (atraumatic) splenic rupture (SSR) following splenic infarction treated by heparin anticoagulation. Splenic rupture precipitated by thrombolytic or anticoagulant therapy has been reported and putatively attributed to unrecognized micro-traumatisms i.e. after resuscitation manoeuvres, leading to massive bleeding upon anticoagulation and secondary splenic rupture. Nevertheless, SSR resulting from splenic infarction and anticoagulation has not been described.