Razi Journal of Medical Sciences

Spontaneous rupture of splenic artery aneurysm (SAA) during pregnancy is a rare event with catastrophic consequences. The risk of rupture, generally given as 3% to 5%, rises in pregnancy up to over 20%, with a 70% maternal and 95% fetal mortality rate. Review of the literature reveals that more than 100 cases of ruptured SAAs in pregnancy have been reported. However, mother and fetus have survived in only 13 of these cases. This paper describes a case of SM rupture during pregnancy, reporting survival of the mother.

A 27-year-old primigravid at 31 st week of gestation was admitted because of acute severe epigastric pain, nausea and vomiting. Physical examination showed that she was in a hypovolemic preshock state with tenderness on abdominal palpation in the epigastrium and left upper quadrant. From the obstetrical point of view there was no bleeding and no uterine contraction, but fetus showed severe bradycardia. She immediately underwent an emergency laparotomy, SM was resected and splenectomy was performed but unfortunately, fetus did not survive. The patient recovered with no complication, however, further evaluation revealed esophageal varices due to portal hypertension.