Rupture of spleen in a mechanically ventilated patient with falciparum malaria admitted with pulmonary edema

ABSTRACT

Rupture of the spleen in malaria may constitute a diagnostic challenge to many clinicians particularly in non-endemic areas where experience with malaria is limited. Our aim is to increase the awareness among clinicians from non-endemic areas of serious malarial complications. We present a young American military man who was admitted to Hamad General Hospital and had 2 serious malarial complications, namely, acute pulmonary edema and rupture of the spleen. He was unusual compared with what was published previously in 4 main points 1. The rupture of spleen occurred while the patient on mechanical ventilation and under the effect of sedation, which constituted a diagnostic challenge. 2. The 2 complications occurred in a patient with a low parasitemia. 3. The causative species for splenic rupture is Plasmodium falciparum, and 4. The first sample of peripheral blood smear for malarial parasite was negative. We treated him successfully and discharged home in a good condition