Rupture of a splenic artery aneurysm during pregnancy with maternal and foetal death: a case report

Aneurysms of the splenic artery are rare although they are the most common of the so-called visceral artery aneurysms. First described by Beaussier in 1770, approximately 400 cases have now been reported in the literature. There is a strong association with pregnancy and since Corson's first description of the death of a mother in the third trimester from rupture of a splenic artery aneurysm. some 2.5% of reported cases have involved pregnant women. Arterial rupture is an obstetric emergency and associated with maternal and foetal mortality rates approaching 75% and 95% respectively. There are only 14 reported instances where both mother and baby survived. The clinical presentation is protean and in most cases splenic artery aneurysm is identified unexpectedly at angiography, laparotomy or post-mortem examination.