Rare Cause of Syncope in a Gravid Female

Clin Pract Cases Emerg Med. 2020 Aug;4(3):478-479. doi: 10.5811/cpcem.2020.5.46948.

Abstract

Case presentation: A 33-year-old gravid female was brought to the emergency department after she collapsed in the street. Point-of-care ultrasound showed free fluid in the abdomen and confirmed an intrauterine pregnancy. Surgical teams were consulted, and cross-sectional imaging revealed a spontaneously ruptured splenic artery aneurysm (SAA). The patient was taken expeditiously to the operating room for splenic artery ligation and subsequent splenectomy.

Discussion: Ruptured SAA in pregnant patients is associated with significant mortality for both mother and fetus. Maintaining a high index of suspicion in the correct population is crucial to avoid diagnostic errors and provide definitive care with operative repair.