Rupture of a splenic artery aneurysm in a previously healthy 53-year-old male

Splenic artery aneurysms are unusual clinical conditions that may be ruptured resulting into adverse health outcomes. Pregnancy, portal hypertension and atherosclerosis are conditions that predispose to the formation of splenic artery aneurysms. A rare case of a previously healthy man referred to our department by his general practitioner complaining of acute abdominal pain is presented. During the hospital stay, the patient presented hemodynamic instability. Abdominal computed tomography disclosed perihepatic and perisplenic fluid accumulation. A diagnosis of ruptured splenic artery aneurysm was performed and the patient was operated successfully with splenectomy and ligation of the splenic artery. Although the condition is rare, physicians have to be aware of the high mortality rates caused by a ruptured splenic artery aneurysm and include this in the differential diagnosis when they encounter patients with acute abdominal pain and hemodynamic instability.