Spontaneous Splenic Rupture in Severe Dengue

Abstract

Dengue is a mosquito-borne systemic viral infection with variety of clinical presentation, ranging from mild febrile illness to severe and fatal disease. A patient presented with history of fever and abdominal pain, and later developed shock. From clinical and epidemiological features, he was diagnosed as a patient of severe dengue, later confirmed by laboratory investigations. In dengue, shock can result from plasma leakage, and abdominal pain may be a feature of acalculous cholecystitis or pancreatitis, recognised presentations of dengue and usually managed conservatively. But high index of suspicion persuaded abdominal imaging, revealing a potentially fatal complication of dengue- spontaneous splenic rupture. Aggressive resuscitation and early surgery saved the patient. DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.3329/bccj.v1i1.14373 Bangladesh Crit Care J March 2013; 1: 59-62