Article Text
Abstract
Colonoscopy is a common procedure that gastroenterologists perform on a daily basis. It is considered a low-risk outpatient procedure and patients can be discharged on the same day after the procedure. Colonoscopy has become more feasible with the increasing application of standard screening for colon cancer and diagnostic procedures for large intestinal disease. There are reported possible risk factors of splenic rupture during the procedure. However, splenic injury after colonoscopy is considered a rare complication and less than 100 cases have been reported in international literature. Interestingly, this is the first case report demonstrating systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) as a possible risk factor leading to splenic rupture post-colonoscopy. Failure to recognise this possibility even in its rarity can lead to life-threatening complications. We present a case of an acute splenic rupture with massive intraperitoneal bleeding after colonoscopy in a patient with SLE.
- gastroenterology
- endoscopy
- systemic lupus erythematosus
- general practice family medicine
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Footnotes
Contributors ST: first author, involved in patient care, data acquisition, drafting manuscript, manuscript revision, gathering information and literature search. PL: data acquisition, manuscript revision, image selection and interpretation. BT: gathering information on previously published cases, manuscript revision. AR: gastroenterologist on the case, manuscript revision, data acquisition and final approval.
Funding The authors have not declared a specific grant for this research from any funding agency in the public, commercial or not-for-profit sectors.
Competing interests None declared.
Provenance and peer review Not commissioned; externally peer reviewed.
Patient consent for publication Obtained.