Massive lower gastrointestinal tract bleeding due to splenic artery aneurysm: a case report.

True aneurysm of the splenic artery is the third most common intraabdominal aneurysm and constitutes 60% of all visceral aneurysms. The incidence of splenic artery aneurysms ranges from 0.01% to as high as 10.4% in the elderly. In approximately 30% of cases, the aneurysm may rupture into a viscus. Aneurysmal rupture into the colon is a potentially fatal but extremely uncommon complication. We report a case of splenic artery aneurysm communicating with the descending colon, presenting as massive lower gastrointestinal tract bleeding. The patient was treated and survived the episode. In English literature, fewer than 15 cases have been described with only two patients surviving.