Atraumatic splenic rupture as a complication of acute exacerbation of chronic pancreatitis, an unusual disease.

Abstract

We report the case of a patient with acute exacerbation of chronic pancreatitis and he suffered an atraumatic splenic rupture. Splenic rupture not associated with trauma is a rare entity that can occurs in normal spleen (spontaneous) or damaged spleen (pathological). This entity may be associated with local inflammatory processes, such as pancreatitis. Ultrasound is a non-invasive technique which is used in unstable patients. CT is useful for making a diagnosis of extension in patients with hemodynamic stability. Atraumatic splenic rupture as a complication of chronic pancreatitis is an unusual disease that requires a high index of suspicion which allows us an early diagnosis because it is a treatable entity that compromises the patient's life.