Rupture of the spleen in infective endocarditis.

A patient had delayed spontaneous rupture of the spleen complicating infective endocarditis. In 20 other cases reported through 1973, the most common presentation was found to be left upper quadrant pain followed by signs of peritoneal irritation and cardiovascular collapse. Abdominal paracentesis consistently yields free blood or pus in the peritoneal cavity; blood replacement and emergency splenectomy may be lifesaving. The basic pathological mechanisms may be (1) rupture of a mycotic aneurysm into the splenic substance (2) rupture of a splenic abscess, and (3) rupture of a suppurating intrasplenic vessel with hematoma formation, subcapsular dissection, and delayed capsular tear.