Postpartum rupture of a splenic artery.

Postpartum abdominal apoplexy is a rare obstetric complication that is associated with a very high maternal mortality rate. We report a patient with a low risk pregnancy and spontaneous vaginal delivery, who at 17 h post partum went into shock secondary to rupture of the splenic artery. She recovered following splenectomy and transfusion of 10 units of blood. This is the seventh documented case of splenic artery rupture in the postpartum period. Four of the seven patients survived. The cases are reviewed and the clinical presentation, pathogenesis and treatment are discussed.