Splenic Artery Aneurysm and Upper Gastrointestinal Bleeding in a Nulliparous Woman

Abstract

An eighty-three-year-old nulliparous woman hospitalized for orthopedic surgery developed postoperative upper gastrointestinal bleeding and hypotension resulting in her death. Postmortem examination revealed a ruptured splenic artery aneurysm. This is the second reported case of gastrointestinal bleeding due to ruptured splenic artery aneurysm in a nulliparous woman and the first such case resulting in death. The incidence, pathophysiology, clinical presentation, and diagnosis of splenic artery aneurysm are discussed.