Sudden death due to non-traumatic rupture of splenic artery aneurysm.

Introduction: Splenic artery aneurysm is a rare form of vascular pathology that carries a high risk of mortality once it gets ruptured. It has a prevalence of 1% and occurs due to thinning and dilatation of the arterial wall. Case: We describe a case of a 35-year-old policeman who died suddenly. At medico-legal autopsy, intraperitoneal clotted blood about 1000 g and liquid blood about 3000 ml were seen. On further exploration, ruptured splenic artery aneurysm about 2.0 cm in diameter became visible near the hilum. Conclusion: Rare cases typically present as sudden and unexpected death with intraperitoneal bleed and may be confused with blunt trauma abdomen. Therefore, splenic artery aneurysm is an appropriate differential diagnosis for sudden deaths and intraperitoneal bleeding, respectively. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]