A Case of Splenic Injury following Colonoscopy

Yoshinori Sugenoya and Hiroshi Saiki^*

Department of Surgery, ^*Department of Internal Medicine Nansei Town Hospital

A rare case of splenic injury was caused by colonoscopy. A 72-year-old man was admitted with a small-bowel obstruction. Distal gastorectomy had been performed due to a gastric ulcer twenty years ago. The small-bowel obstruction was improved with conservative therapy. A few days later, colonoscopy was performed because he had been suffering from constipation. The procedure was uncomplicated and endoscopic findings were normal. Approximately 4 hours after colonoscopy, the patient complained of left upper quadrant pain without peritoneal signs. Hypotension, and decreases in red blood cell count and in hemoglobin were also noted. A CT scan was obtained, which demonstrated a laceration of the spleen, and splenectomy was performed. Splenic injury following colonoscopy is very rare. But if left upper quadrant pain or shock are observed after colonoscopy, physicians should be aware of this unusual colonoscopic complication.

Key words
complication of colonoscopy, splenic injury, splenectomy

Reprint requests
Yoshinori Sugenoya Department of Surgery, Nansei Town Hospital 2959 Gokashoura, Nanseicho, Wataraigun, Mie 516-0101 JAPAN

Accepted
July 28, 1999

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