splenic infarction

Etiology

predisposing comorbidities

• cardioembolism (25%)
  • celiac artery or splenic artery atherosclerosis
• cancer (20%)
• sepsis (17%)
• abdominal inflammation or abdominal infection (16%)
• hypercoagulable state not due to cancer
• hypotension not due to sepsis
• sickle cell disease
• trauma
• cirrhosis

Pathology

• splenic artery or branch occlusion
  • splenic artery thromobosis

Clinical manifestations

• left upper quadrant pain (20%)
• left flank pain
• abdominal pain elsewhere (47%)
  • 30% without abdominal pain

Management

• most splenic infarcts do not require surgical intervention
• surgical indications
  • sepsis
  • splenic abscess
  • hemorrhage
  • persistent pseudocyst formation
• surgical procedures: splenectomy

More general terms

• infarction

Additional terms

• asplenism
• spleen