Radiological Management of Splenic Artery Injury Following Routine Colonoscopy

Abstract

Colonoscopies can be used for both interventional and dialogistic purposes. The use of colonoscopies is not without risk and an awareness of these risks, as well as the clinical presentation of these risks / adverse effects, is vital to ensure optimal patient care is achieved both throughout and after the procedure. We present a case of a 49-year-old patient who presented to a district general hospital within the National Health Service (NHS) with diffuse abdominal pain and haemodynamic instability following a colonoscopy. A splenic artery injury was identified following a computerized tomography (CT) scan with contrast, of the abdomen and pelvis of the patient. The patient was resuscitated and managed without the need of surgical intervention in the form of targeted splenic artery embolization. This case highlights that a high index of suspicion of splenic injury should be held by the clinical in any patient who presents with abdominal pain with or without haemodynamic instability as early intervention is key to good patient outcomes.