Summary

Atraumatic rupture of the normal spleen is a rare entity. Often, a triggering factor or minor physical event can be ascribed as the aetiology for rupture, including coughing, vomiting or minor medical procedures not involving the spleen. A 65-year-old man who was hospitalised for eosinophilic pneumonia developed haemodynamically unstable atrial flutter that necessitated urgent synchronised direct current cardioversion (DCCV). Two hours after successful cardioversion, he developed signs of an acute abdomen with free intraperitoneal fluid identified on bedside ultrasonography. Exploratory laparotomy revealed gross haemoperitoneum and splenic rupture requiring splenectomy. With exception of capsular defects and haemorrhage suggestive of organ rupture, the gross and histological examination of the spleen was otherwise unremarkable. The patient denied recent trauma. The cause of his spleen rupture was attributed to cardioversion and subsequent abdominal muscle contraction. This represents the first known case of splenic rupture associated with DCCV.