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Updated: Aug 16, 2026

Laparoscopic Splenectomy with Pericardial Devascularization for Hypersplenism and Esophageal Variceal Hemorrhage Due to Portal Hypertension
Published on: November 15, 2024
Splenic rupture following colonoscopy: rare in the UK?
1Department of Surgery, Prince Charles Hospital, Pontypridd, Wales, UK.
Abstract:
Splenic injury following colonoscopy is rare, with only 28 cases reported so far in the English language literature. Direct trauma during colonoscopy or traction on the spleno-colic ligament is the proposed mechanism of injury. Computed tomography (CT) of the abdomen is usually considered to be the most sensitive and specific modality for diagnosis. We report a case of a 56-year-old female, who was diagnosed having a splenic rupture following a routine colonoscopy for investigation of anaemia. She underwent an emergency laparotomy with splenectomy and made a satisfactory recovery post-operatively. We wish to highlight that there should be a high index of suspicion of splenic rupture in patients presenting with abdominal pain and demonstrating a positive Kehr's sign following colonoscopy. Only two case reports from the United Kingdom have been published, raising the possibility of under-reporting of such cases.
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