Abstract

A 68-year old male presented to our hospital with sudden onset of left sided chest and abdominal pain. The patient was previously treated for left lower lobe pneumonia and reported no history of chest or abdominal trauma. His medical history included atrial fibrillation which was managed by rivaroxaban 20 mg once daily. Computed tomography of the abdomen demonstrated a splenic haematoma. The patient rapidly deteriorated and developed hypovolaemic shock. Emergency laparotomy revealed haemoperitoneum of 3500 mL and the ruptured spleen. The postoperative course was complicated by pancreatic fistula formation which eventually resolved.

Key words: spontaneous splenic rupture, rivaroxaban