Congenital absence of splenic artery: a rare cause of upper gastrointestinal bleed

Abstract

A 21-year-old woman presented as an emergency with upper abdominal discomfort and one episode of haematemesis. Physical examination, blood results and oesophagogastroduodenoscopy (OGD) were unremarkable. The patient collapsed following a large haematemesis 24 hours later and was intubated, ventilated and resuscitated. Repeat OGD demonstrated multiple areas of gastric angiodysplasia with active bleeding. Attempted haemostasis was unsuccessful. computed tomography angiography (CTA) demonstrated an absent splenic artery and multiple abnormal collaterals supplying the stomach, pancreas and spleen originating from a hypertrophied left gastric artery and gastro-epiploic arteries. Angiography demonstrated active bleeding from these abnormal collaterals, which were successfully embolised and haemostasis attained. On follow-up CTA, no evidence of further bleeding or infarction was noted. Congenital absence of the splenic artery is rare, with only four reported cases, and is an extremely rare cause of upper gastrointestinal bleeding.