Article Text
CASE REPORT
Abdominal pain and collapse in the emergency department
Summary
Rupture of a splenic artery aneurysm is a rare but life-threatening presentation to the emergency department. This case demonstrates the importance of swift resuscitation and the benefit of bedside imaging in a highly unstable patient. The definitive management of this condition in patients who are refractory to resuscitative attempts is immediate surgery with the diagnosis often only confirmed at laparotomy.