Spontaneous splenic rupture complicating thrombolytic therapy in acute myocardial infarction

Abstract

A 64-year-old woman with the diagnosis of acute anterior infarction was treated with streptokinase, i.v. heparin, and aspirin. After 20 hours of hospitalization she developed hypotension and a fall in hematocrit level with acute onset of severe abdominal pain. After genitourinary and gastrointestinal bleeding, pulmonary embolism and reinfarction had been ruled out, however, abdominal ultrasonography revealed intraabdominal hemorrhage and the patient was given three units of blood transfusion. Abdominal laparotomy and laparoscopy were not performed as the patient's clinical status stabilized on the 3rd day and hemodynamics did not deteriorate thereafter. Abdominal computerized tomography in the second week revealed a splenic rupture.

Publication History

Publication Date:
23 April 2011 (online)