[Splenic artery aneurysm. Report of a case]

Abstract

Background: The incidence of splenic artery aneurysm is not well known because they are often asymptomatic.

Clinical case: The case is presented of a 40 year-old woman diagnosed with a splenic artery aneurysm. She was clinically asymptomatic. A three-dimensional angiographic study was performed. The artery embolisation was rejected, according to the results of the study; thus it was decided to perform a laparoscopic splenic-aneurysmectomy.

Conclusions: Splenic artery aneurysms may present with non-specific symptoms, such as abdominal pain or anorexia. However 2-10% of aneurysms debut as spontaneous rupture. For this reason treatment is indicated in symptomatic aneurysms or those with rupture risk factors. In these cases there are different possibilities, such as therapeutic embolisation, endovascular stenting or surgery. Surgical approach varies depending on the location of the aneurysm in the splenic artery, enabling aneurysmectomy, splenic-aneurysmectomy, or aneurysm exclusion to be performed.

Keywords: Aneurisma de la arteria esplénica; Esplenectomía; Splenectomy; Splenic artery aneurysm.