Splenic Injury After Colonoscopy in a 55-Year-Old Female Patient

Abstract

Colonoscopy is, in general, a relatively safe procedure with a low complication rate. Splenic injury related to this procedure is very rare, ranging from one in 100,000 to one in 6,387 colonoscopies, but a possibly lethal complication. For its diagnosis, a high degree of clinical suspicion is needed as many physicians are not aware of its existence. Clinical symptoms and signs are observed 1-10 days after the procedure. The imaging modality of choice is contrast-enhanced computed tomography (CECT). However, contrast-enhanced ultrasound (CEUS) may also be used to detect abdominal fluid and the injured area of the spleen. We present a case of a 55-year-old female with splenic rupture after a colonoscopy, diagnosed with CEUS and CECT. Splenectomy was performed, and the patient's recovery was uneventful.