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Updated: Jul 15, 2026

Laparoscopic Splenectomy with Pericardial Devascularization for Hypersplenism and Esophageal Variceal Hemorrhage Due to Portal Hypertension
Published on: November 15, 2024
Splenic rupture: an unusual complication of colonoscopy
Stefan Holubar1, Amit Dwivedi, J Eisdorfer
1Department of General Surgery, North Shore University-Long Island Jewish Hospital, Manhasset, New York, USA.
Abstract:
Splenic injury is a known, albeit rare, complication of diagnostic and therapeutic colonoscopy. Within a 6-month period, we observed two colonoscopic splenic injuries. We report these two cases of splenic injury who presented differently after colonoscopy: one presented as frank hemorrhagic shock, and the other as a subacute splenic hemorrhage with symptomatic anemia. The first patient presented with hemorrhagic shock several hours after a diagnostic colonoscopy and required an emergency splenectomy. The second patient presented with symptomatic anemia several days after a diagnostic colonoscopy and was treated by angiographic embolization. Clinical presentation and discussion of the mechanisms of injury, available treatment options, and strategies for preventing colonoscopic splenic injuries are presented. Awareness of this complication is paramount in early recognition and management of this potentially life-threatening injury.
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