RESUMO
BACKGROUND: Hemoperitoneum due to spontaneous rupture of a visceral vessel may result from a variety of underlying pathologies. However, its idiopathic form does not show evidence of any predisposition. PATIENT AND METHODS: An abdominal CT scan for acute abdominal pain yielded the unexpected diagnosis of a ruptured splenic artery in a 21-year-old patient. Hemostasis was achieved by endovascular coiling of a segmental splenic artery lacking any evidence of pathological transformation. An extensive intraabdominal hematoma was evacuated in a consecutive laparoscopy which, furthermore, confirmed interventional success. Despite extensive diagnostic efforts, the cause of the bleeding remained undefined. CONCLUSION: Spontaneous hemoperitoneum may occasionally be considered as a cause of acute abdomial pain and is diagnostically challenging. An interdisciplinary approach is desirable to meet the objective of modern organ-preserving therapy in splenic artery rupture.