Kulkarni Shrawani, Chakole Swarupa, Dubey Tanishq, Yelne Seema
Community Medicine, Jawaharlal Nehru Medical College, Datta Meghe Institute of Higher Education and Research, Wardha, IND.
General Medicine, Jawaharlal Nehru Medical College, Datta Meghe Institute of Higher Education and Research, Wardha, IND.
Cureus. 2023 Oct 30;15(10):e47940. doi: 10.7759/cureus.47940. eCollection 2023 Oct.
Aneurysms of the splenic artery leading to extrahepatic portal hypertension are sporadic and infrequently encountered. They typically manifest as a consequence of thrombus or embolus formation. A splenic artery aneurysm (SAA) represents a localized expansion in the diameter of the splenic artery and is one of the most prevalent forms of visceral artery aneurysms. This artery dilation is primarily attributed to pancreatitis, trauma, or atherosclerosis, commonly affecting elderly patients. Patients affected by this condition typically remain asymptomatic, except for an audible bruit over the aneurysm site, unless a rupture occurs. In the event of a rupture, early indicators include abdominal pain, hemoperitoneum, and a positive Kerr sign, all indicative of SAA rupture. Most SAAs are incidentally discovered, with CT angiography being the preferred diagnostic tool. We present the case of a 38-year-old female (gravida 1, para 1) with a previous full-term normal delivery, who presented to a rural tertiary care hospital with a two-week history of left-sided abdominal pain. A CT scan of the abdomen revealed a solitary aneurysm in the distal portion of the splenic artery, accompanied by perisplenic fluid collection resulting in splenomegaly. Given the critical risk of rupture, which can result in life-threatening bleeding, prompt and accurate diagnosis assumes paramount significance. It is worth noting that the diagnosis of SAA often occurs incidentally due to its asymptomatic nature in its early stages. We document this unique occurrence of extrahepatic SAA contributing to pancytopenia, portal hypertension, and extensive splenomegaly to provide valuable insights for medical professionals in recognizing and managing such presentations. This awareness can help prevent unnecessary diagnostic and therapeutic interventions.
导致肝外门静脉高压的脾动脉瘤较为散发性,临床罕见。它们通常因血栓或栓子形成而出现。脾动脉瘤(SAA)是指脾动脉直径的局限性扩张,是内脏动脉瘤最常见的形式之一。这种动脉扩张主要归因于胰腺炎、创伤或动脉粥样硬化,常见于老年患者。受此疾病影响的患者通常无症状,除非发生破裂,否则在动脉瘤部位可闻及血管杂音。一旦破裂,早期指标包括腹痛、腹腔积血和凯尔氏征阳性,均提示SAA破裂。大多数SAA是偶然发现的,CT血管造影是首选的诊断工具。我们报告一例38岁经产妇(孕1产1),既往足月顺产,因左侧腹痛两周就诊于一家农村三级医院。腹部CT扫描显示脾动脉远端有一个孤立性动脉瘤,伴有脾周积液导致脾肿大。鉴于破裂的严重风险,可能导致危及生命的出血,及时准确的诊断至关重要。值得注意的是,由于SAA早期无症状,其诊断往往是偶然的。我们记录了这例导致全血细胞减少、门静脉高压和广泛脾肿大的肝外SAA的独特病例,为医学专业人员认识和处理此类病例提供有价值的见解。这种认识有助于避免不必要的诊断和治疗干预。