Splenic artery aneurysm with double-rupture phenomenon and circulatory collapse following anesthesia induction: A case report.

BACKGROUND

Splenic artery aneurysm (SAA) rupture is a rare, life-threatening condition characterized by acute intra-abdominal hemorrhage and hemodynamic instability. Ruptured SAAs may exhibit a biphasic and relatively slow clinical progression, commonly referred to as the "double-rupture phenomenon". The reported incidence of the double-rupture phenomenon ranges 12%-21% in patients with ruptured SAAs, potentially due to variations in intra-abdominal pressure. Following anesthesia induction, muscle relaxation can decrease intra-abdominal pressure, potentially triggering the double-rupture phenomenon and leading to circulatory collapse.

CASE SUMMARY

A 61-year-old female presented to the Department of Emergency with upper abdominal pain, abdominal distension, dizziness, and vomiting. Her vital signs were initially stable. Physical examination revealed abdominal tenderness and positive-shifting dullness. Abdominal contrast-enhanced computed tomography revealed cirrhosis, severe portal hypertension, and splenomegaly. Acute rupture was suggested by a hematoma on the upper left side outside the SAA. Surgeons deemed intravascular intervention challenging and open splenectomy inevitable. Circulatory collapse occurred after anesthesia induction, likely due to a double rupture of the SAA. This double-rupture phenomenon may have resulted from an initial rupture of the SAA into the omental bursa, forming a hematoma that exerted a tamponade effect. A second rupture into the peritoneal cavity may have been triggered by decreased intra-abdominal pressure following anesthesia induction. The patient's life was saved through early, coordinated, multidisciplinary team collaboration. Following cardiopulmonary resuscitation and emergency splenectomy, she recovered without significant postoperative bleeding or hypoxic encephalopathy.

CONCLUSION

Anesthesia-induced pressure reduction may trigger a second SAA rupture, causing collapse. Early diagnosis and multidisciplinary teamwork improve outcomes. This is a rare and life-threatening case of SAA rupture, which is of great significance to the medical community for understanding and handling such emergencies.