Spontaneous splenic rupture due to subcutaneous heparin therapy

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S J Weiss1, T Smith, E Laurin

  • 1Division of Emergency Medicine, University of California, Davis, Medical Center, Sacramento, California 95817, USA.

The Journal of Emergency Medicine
|May 10, 2000
PubMed

We report a case of spontaneous splenic rupture in a 59-year-old woman who was receiving 15,000 units of heparin subcutaneously (s.c. ) twice a day for deep venous thrombosis (DVT) prophylaxis. Her past medical history included multiple DVT, pulmonary emboli, and ovarian cancer stage III-C with known ascites. The diagnosis of splenic rupture was initially missed because of the ascites. This case illustrates both a previously undescribed complication of s.c. heparin therapy and a failure of ultrasound diagnosis. We emphasize the unique presentation, difficulty in diagnosis, and need for early surgical involvement to ensure the most favorable outcome.

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