Related Experiment Video
Updated: Feb 4, 2026

Application of Laparoscopic Partial Splenectomy with Total Blood Flow Occlusion in Benign Splenic Lesions
Published on: December 20, 2024
Unusual Complications From Babesia Infection: Splenic Infarction and Splenic Rupture in Two Separate Patients
Benjamin Blackwood1, William Binder1
1Department of Emergency Medicine, Alpert School of Medicine, Brown University, Providence, Rhode Island.
Background:
Babesiosis is a zoonotic parasitic infection transmitted by the tick, Ixodes scapularis. Splenic infarct and rupture are infrequent complications of Babesia parasitemia, and have not been previously reported in the emergency medicine literature.
Case Report:
We present two separate cases seen within 1 month at our institution: a case of splenic rupture and another case of splenic infarction due to Babesia parasitemia. WHY SHOULD AN EMERGENCY PHYSICIAN BE AWARE OF THIS?: Babesia infection in humans is increasingly prevalent in both the United States and worldwide, and clinical manifestations can range from subclinical to fulminant infections. An unusual but potentially fatal complication of babesiosis is splenic infarctions and rupture. Due to the endemicity of this parasite, a careful history and level of suspicion will enable the emergency physician to consider and test for babesiosis in patients with splenic injuries and without obvious traditional risk factors.
Related Concept Videos
Unusual Results
According to the range rule of thumb, any value above or below two standard deviations, 2σ from the mean, μ is considered unusual.
Maximum unusual value =...
z Scores and Unusual Values
This score indicates how far a value is from the mean in terms of standard deviation. For example, if a data value has a z score of +1, the researcher can infer that the particular data value is one standard deviation above the mean. If another data...
Hemodialysis II: Procedure and Complications
Pneumonia III: Complications and Assessment
Diabetes: Symptoms, Diagnosis, and Complications
Asthma-III: Symptoms and Complications
Classification of Asthma

