Torsión esplénica / Splenic Torsion

Introducción: El síndrome de torsión se incluye dentro de los síndromes que causan abdomen agudo quirúrgico. Como causa poco frecuente de este síndrome se encuentra la torsión esplénica en bazos que tienen anomalía en su fijación. Objetivo: Informar sobre la evolución de una paciente tratada por torsión de un bazo errante. Presentación del caso: Paciente de ocho años de edad, femenina, de color no blanco de la piel, con antecedentes de dolor abdominal crónico recurrente, que acudió al Servicio de Urgencias del Hospital Pediátrico de Cienfuegos Paquito González Cueto con dolor abdominal agudo, intermitente, de 48 horas de evolución, vómitos, abdomen doloroso a la palpación profunda en cuadrante superior izquierdo y masa palpable en flanco lateral del mismo lado de tres cm. Se sospechó una torsión esplénica. Se realizó, como complementario diagnóstico ultrasonido abdominal Doppler y tomografía contrastada de abdomen. Se hizo laparotomía y se encontró bazo torcido, con cambios de coloración por la isquemia, que recuperó su color normal después de la destorsión. Se fijó el órgano a la pared abdominal. La evolución posquirúrgica resultó satisfactoria. Conclusiones: La torsión esplénica, aunque infrecuente, debe sospecharse en pacientes con dolor intermitente y masa palpable, principalmente en flanco lateral izquierdo. La tomografía contrastada resulta el examen diagnóstico de elección y se requiere de un diagnóstico temprano para poder conservar el bazo, órgano muy importante para una mejor función inmunológica en los niños(AU)

Introduction: Torsion syndrome is included among the syndromes causing acute surgical abdomen. A rare cause of this syndrome is splenic torsion in spleens with abnormal fixation. Objective: To report on the evolution of a patient treated for torsion of an errant spleen. Case presentation: Eight-year-old female patient, non-white skin color, with a history of recurrent chronic abdominal pain, who attended the Emergency Department of the Paquito González Cueto Pediatric Hospital of Cienfuegos with intermittent acute abdominal pain of 48 hours of evolution, vomiting, painful abdomen on deep palpation in the left upper quadrant and palpable mass in the lateral flank of the same side measuring three centimeters. Splenic torsion was suspected. Doppler abdominal ultrasound and contrasted tomography of the abdomen were performed as a complementary diagnosis. Laparotomy was performed and the spleen was found to be twisted, with changes in color due to ischemia, which recovered its normal color after detorsion. The organ was fixed to the abdominal wall. The postoperative evolution was satisfactory. Conclusions: Splenic torsion, although rare, should be suspected in patients with intermittent pain and palpable mass, mainly in the left lateral flank. Contrast tomography is the diagnostic test of choice and early diagnosis is required to preserve the spleen, a very important organ for better immune function in children(AU)

Wandering spleen as a cause of sinistral portal hypertension

Wandering spleen (WS) is a rare entity characterized by laxity of peritoneal ligaments that hold the spleen stationary. It is most commonly diagnosed in children and young women. Clinical presentation ranges from asymptomatic to acute abdomen. A 19-year-old woman came to the emergency department with history of progressive abdominal pain. She also had previous episodes of hematemesis. A computed tomography scan showed an ectopic spleen with a "whirlpool sign." Laparotomy and splenectomy were performed. WS is characterized by a long vascular pedicle and laxity of peritoneal attachments of the spleen. The etiology is usually congenital. Splenopexy is the main treatment; however, splenectomy is indicated when splenic infarction is present. Despite being rare, this condition may be considered in some cases of abdominal pain. An earlier diagnosis would have allowed us to perform a splenopexy, thus reducing morbidity. (AU)

Bazo errante: una causa infrecuente de abdomen agudo / Wandering spleen: an unusual cause of acute abdomen

El síndrome de bazo errante es una condición infrecuente en la cual existe ausencia o hiperlaxitud en los elementos de fijación esplénicos que predispone a una ubicación inusual en el abdomen y mayor riesgo de torsión e infarto visceral. Su etiología puede ser congénita o adquirida y la presentación clínica es variable. El diagnóstico se basa en sospecha clínica, laboratorio y estudios por imágenes. La cirugía es el único tratamiento definitivo para esta afección. Presentamos el caso de una mujer de 23 años de edad con antecedentes de episodios recurrentes de dolor en hipocondrio izquierdo desde la infancia. Al examen físico se encontraba hemodinámicamente estable, afebril y con dolor en hipocondrio izquierdo. La ecografía mostró esplenomegalia homogénea y la tomografía de abdomen evidenció un bazo aumentado de tamaño, de posición conservada, con arremolinamiento y congestión de los vasos en el hilio esplénico. Se interpretó el cuadro como isquemia esplénica secundaria a torsión del pedículo vascular. Se realizó laparoscopia exploradora que evidenció bazo de 18 cm libre en hipocondrio izquierdo, con venas varicosas en la periferia y sin ligamentos de fijación. Se realizó esplenectomía por vía laparoscópica. La anatomía patológica informó necrosis isquémica del órgano. Evolucionó favorablemente con alta hospitalaria al tercer día postoperatorio.

Wandering spleen syndrome is a rare condition in which absence or laxity of splenic fixing elements predisposes to an unusual location in the abdomen and an increasing risk of twisting and infarction. Its etiology may be congenital or acquired and clinical presentation is variable. Diagnosis is based on clinical suspicion, laboratory and imaging. Surgery is the only definitive treatment for this pathology. We report the case of a 23 year old woman with a history of recurrent episodes of abdominal pain in the left upper quadrant since childhood. On physical examination she was afebrile, hemodynamically stable, with marked abdominal tenderness in the left upper quadrant. Ultrasonography showed homogeneous splenomegaly. Abdominal CT-scan presented an enlarged, eutopic spleen, with swirling and congestion of hilum vessels. Splenic ischemia due to organ torsion was suspected. Exploratory laparoscopy was performed showing an 18 cm in diameter spleen free in left upper quadrant, with varicose veins in the periphery and without fixing ligaments. Laparoscopic splenectomy was completed. The pathology report showed ischemic necrosis of the organ. The patient progressed favorably and was discharged on the third postoperative day.

Torsion of a wandering spleen presenting as a case of acute abdomen

Wandering spleen is a rare cause of acute abdomen. Generally, it remains asymptomatic, it may present clinically as a painless mobile mass or rarely as an acute abdomen when the wandering spleen twists on its pedicle, resulting in splenic congestion, infarction with or without involvement of neighbouring visceras. Here, we present an unusual case of torsion of a wandering spleen, which resulted in congestive splenomegaly and small bowel obstruction as a rare case of acute abdomen

Splenic torsion

A young male presented with acute abdominal pain of 4 days. Treated as appendicular mass, which did not responds to conservative management. Ultra Sound scan and CT abdomen failed to give a definite diagnosis of the tender fixed mass in lower abdomen. Laparotomy proved the mass to be an engorged large spleen twisted on its long vascular pedicle, the ischemic spleen adherent to bowel loops and posterior peritoneum. Splenectomy performed. Postoperative reactionary hemorrhage required re-exploration and clearance of clots. Patient had uneventful recovery

Wandering spleen presenting as an asymptomatic pelvic mass: a case report

Ectopic spleen is a rare entity. It is more common in children than in adults and it is about 15 times more common in females. Here we report a patient with an ectopic spleen who was referred for sonographic evaluation of an asymptomatic pelvic mass by a gynecologist. At sonography, a big homogenous mass located at the RLQ of the abdomen and the right pelvic cavity was detected. Further investigation by color Doppler sonography showed that the mass is an ectopic spleen and the main spleen could not be detected at its normal location. In the abdominopelvic CT scan, the spleen was located at the RLQ, no splenic tissue was found in the left hypochondrium, and this region was occupied by the left colon and stomach. Ectopic spleen, though very rare, should be considered in the differential diagnosis of asymptomatic pelvic masses

Wandering spleen with torsion of the pedicle

Wandering spleen is a rare medical entity. It usually occurs at 20-40 years of age, and most cases are seen in women. Clinical diagnosis is difficult due to lack of symptoms, unless splenic torsion has occurred and clinical symptomatology of acute abdomen develops. The diagnosis can be confirmed by imaging techniques. Treatment is operative due to complications of splenic infarction. Splenopexy is the usual treatment, except for cases of splenic infarction. Splenectomy should be carried out when there is no evidence of splenic blood flow after detorsion of the spleen and in cases of excessive splenomegaly