The other patient had abdominal pain and fever. Explorative laparotomy revealed an enlarged spleen in both patients. Splenectomy was performed in both patients. We have identified 15 episodes of spontaneous rupture of the spleen in the English language literature published since 1961. Because of increased travel to endemic areas and resistance to antimalarial drugs, malaria is a major medical problem that is becoming increasingly important to surgeons worldwide.
Malaria is a particularly important problem in the southeast Anatolia region of Turkey.
In areas where malaria is endemic, spontaneous rupture of spleen is uncommon. Because of increased travel to endemic areas and resistance to anti-malarial drugs, however, malaria is a major medical problem, which is becoming increasingly important to surgeons worldwide. He had been taking chloroquine. In the emergency department he was hypotensive and had pain in the left hypochondrium. Ultrasound showed an enlarged, ruptured spleen and free blood in the abdomen.