Primary Splenic Ectopic Pregnancy Managed With Angioembolization and Splenectomy

Abstract

A primary splenic ectopic pregnancy is an extremely rare entity; one that is fraught with life-threatening risks due to potential for acute hemorrhage. The diagnosis is challenging to make, and once detected, there is a distinct sense of urgency to perform operative intervention (splenectomy) prior to any impending rupture. This report describes the case of a 34-year-old female, gravida 5, para 3013, at estimated 4 weeks gestation with a 2.1 × 1.3 cm ectopic pregnancy abutting the splenic hilum. Through multidisciplinary management with Obstetrics/Gynecology (OB/GYN), Interventional Radiology (IR), and General Surgery teams, the patient received preoperative non-elective splenic artery embolization to mitigate risk of rupture, followed by open splenectomy while remaining hemodynamically stable throughout the course of her treatment. As evidenced by this case, a multidisciplinary approach to this unusual clinical presentation leads to successful patient outcomes and prevents the devastating complication of acute hemorrhage.

Keywords: acute care surgery; general surgery; intra-abdominal pregnancy; splenic ectopic pregnancy.