Case Report: Hemodynamic Instability Caused by Splenic Rupture During Video-Assisted Thoracoscopic Lobectomy

Introduction

Video-assisted thoracoscopic surgical procedures (VATS) are widely performed for treatment of patients with lung cancer. Growing evidence have shown the advantages of VATS lobectomy over thoracotomy (1). Splenic rupture after VATS lung procedures is a very rare but catastrophic event. Here, we reported a case with persistent hemodynamic instability after VATS lobectomy. After the splenic rupture was eventually diagnosed, the patient received splenectomy. This report adheres to the CARE guidelines, with completed CARE checklist in Supplementary File S1.

Case Report

A 67-year-old female (165 cm height and 68 kg weight) was admitted to our hospital for left lower lung adenocarcinoma and underwent left lower VATS lobectomy. The patient was at American Society of Anesthesiologists physical status II with no major comorbidities. Hemoglobin (Hb) was 11.7 g/dL, and platelet count was 119 × 10⁹/L. Preoperative laboratory tests revealed no abnormalities in coagulation function or other parameters.

Pre-induction non-invasive cuff blood pressure was 142/78 mmHg, heart rate was 72 beats/min, and peripheral oxygen saturation was 97%. The patient received an opioid-free anesthesia regimen. Dexmedetomidine 0.6 µg/kg was administered over 10 min. An arterial line was inserted into the right radial artery for measuring arterial blood pressure. Esketamine 0.3 mg/kg, propofol 2 mg/kg, and rocuronium 0.6 mg/kg were used for induction. A left-sided double-lumen endobronchial tube was used for intubation and confirmed by auscultation, capnography, and fiberoptic bronchoscopy. One-lung ventilation (tidal volume 350–400 mL, respiratory rate 12–18 breaths/min, I/E = 1:2, 60%–100% oxygen) was started. Anesthesia was maintained with sevoflurane 1%–3% inhalation, dexmedetomidine infusion 0.3–1.0 µg/kg/h, and intermittent esketamine boluses 0.1–0.2 mg/kg. Dexamethasone 5 mg and ondansetron 8 mg were given for prophylaxis of postoperative nausea and vomiting.

The surgical procedure started at 16:32. The patient’s hemodynamics remained stable for about 3 h into surgery. At 19:30, patient’s blood pressure dropped from 130/75 mmHg to 88/51 mmHg. Phenylephrine 50 µg was administered intravenously to treat the hypotension, and dexmedetomidine infusion was also stopped. The anesthesiologist discussed the situation with the thoracic surgeons. They checked the surgical field and found no obvious bleeding. Using intermittent boluses of phenylephrine and/or ephedrine, blood pressure was maintained within 100–130/60–80 mmHg. The surgery was completed at 21:00. Intraoperative fluid infusion consisted of lactate Ringer’s solution 1,000 mL and gelatin solution 500 mL. Intraoperative blood loss was approximately 300 mL. Intraoperative urine output was 400 mL.

At the end of the surgery, the arterial blood gas and electrolyte analyses showed that pH = 7.357, pCO₂= 41.1 mmHg, pO₂= 294 mmHg, Hb = 8.2 g/dL, Ca²⁺= 1.07 mmol/L, and lactate = 1.5 mmol/L (Table 1). At 21:30, the double-lumen endobronchial tube was removed after the patient fully awaked. Supplemental oxygen at 2 L/min was delivered via a nasal catheter. Shortly thereafter, her blood pressure dropped from 120/70 mmHg to 85/46 mmHg, and heart rate was 80 beats/min. 10% calcium gluconate 10 mL was administered intravenously. At 22:22, the Hb was 8.4 g/dL (Table 1). Blood pressure still fluctuated within 70–100/50–65 mmHg. The surgeons rechecked the drainage and confirmed no bleeding in the chest. At this moment, the patient complained of chest tightness. Myocardial ischemia and cardiogenic shock were suspected. The electrocardiogram showed no abnormality in the ST segment, and high-sensitivity troponin T results did not support myocardial injury. Gelatin anaphylaxis was also considered in the differential diagnosis, and methylprednisolone 40 mg and intermittent low-dose epinephrine 10–20 µg were given intravenously. Bedside chest X-ray ruled out pneumothorax, intrathoracic bleeding, or other intrathoracic abnormalities.

TABLE 1

Table 1. Arterial blood gas and electrolyte analyses.

Because of sustained hemodynamic instability, a central venous catheter was placed in the internal jugular vein under ultrasonography, for central venous pressure (CVP) monitoring, fluid resuscitation, and infusion of vasopressors (norepinephrine and dopamine). In addition, cardiac index (CI) and stroke volume variation (SVV) were monitored using the FloTrac/Vigileo system. At 23:55, the monitor showed that CVP = 4 mmHg, CI = 2.6 L/min/m², and SVV = 19%. Based on these, hypovolemia was considered. Lactate Ringer’s solution 500 mL, hydroxyethyl starch 500 mL, erythrocytes 3 units, and fresh frozen plasma 500 mL were given. At 00:33, Hb was 8.8 g/dL, and lactate was 3.8 mmol/L (Table 1). Blood pressure was maintained within 100–120/60–80 mmHg, and heart rate was 80–100 beats/min, with a small-dose epinephrine infusion (0.03–0.05 µg/kg/min).

At 01:59, blood analysis showed that pH decreased to 7.294, Hb dropped to 6.8 g/dL, and lactate increased to 6.3 mmol/L (Table 1). These results were confirmed by an additional test at 02:04. The patient reported upper abdominal pain, and her abdomen was more distended than before. The bedside abdominal ultrasonography showed free intraperitoneal fluids (images not captured). Abdominal computed tomography (CT) confirmed splenic injury and large amount of fluid in the abdominal cavity (Figure 1A). Emergent laparotomy was performed, and splenic rupture was diagnosed. The patient underwent splenectomy, with two lacerations on the diaphragmatic surface of the spleen (Figure 1B). The hemodynamic changes and treatment for hypotension of this patient were summarized in Table 2. After surgery, the patient was admitted to the thoracic intensive care unit. The patient did well postoperatively. She was transferred to the general ward at postoperative day 1 and discharged from the hospital on postoperative day 5.

FIGURE 1

Figure 1. Images of abdominal computed tomography and ruptured spleen. (A) Abdominal computed tomography showing splenic hematoma and large amount of free intraperitoneal fluid. (B) Two lacerations of the ruptured spleen.

TABLE 2

Table 2. Hemodynamic changes and treatment for hypotension.

Discussion

Splenic rupture is an uncommon and serious complication of VATS procedures. Only four similar cases were previously reported in the literature (2–5). Among them, one patient was managed with angiographic arterial embolization of the spleen, and the other three patients received splenectomy. Our patient also underwent splenectomy. In all reported cases including our patient, there was no evidence of diaphragmatic laceration during the surgical procedures, and radiographic examinations also showed that the diaphragm was intact. The injury to the spleen may be caused by transdiaphragmatic blunt trauma, which was possibly associated with the positioning of thoracoscopic ports and surgical manipulations. In the absence of diaphragmatic injury during surgery, early diagnosis of splenic rupture is usually difficult. In our case, after excluding hypovolemic shock and surgical bleeding, the cause of hemodynamic instability was considered as cardiogenic shock or anaphylactic shock, and eventually back to hypovolemic shock. We continuously monitored the patient’s hemodynamic fluctuations and maintained her blood pressure with vasopressors and volume therapy; however, to some extent, the diagnosis of splenic rupture of this case was delayed.

From this case, we can learn that, in the situation of unexplained hemodynamic instability during the VATS procedures, the possibility of splenic injury and rupture should be considered. For patients with clinical features of hemodynamic instability and abdominal pain after VATS, abdominal ultrasound and/or CT examinations should be carried out as soon as possible for prompt diagnosis and treatment.

Data Availability Statement

The original contributions presented in the study are included in the article/Supplementary Material, further inquiries can be directed to the corresponding authors.

Ethics Statement

Ethical review and approval was not required for the study on human participants in accordance with the local legislation and institutional requirements. The patients/participants provided their written informed consent to participate in this study. Written informed consent was obtained from the individual(s) for the publication of any potentially identifiable images or data included in this article.

Author Contributions

All authors made substantial contributions to the design of this study, data acquisition and interpretation, drafting the manuscript, or revising the manuscript critically. All authors agreed to be accountable for all aspects of the work and gave their final approval of this version to be published. All authors contributed to the article and approved the submitted version.

Funding

Funds from our institution for open access publication fees.

Acknowledgments

We would like to thank the thoracic surgeons and our department nurses for their support in this case report.

Supplementary Material

The Supplementary Material for this article can be found online at: https://www.frontiersin.org/article/10.3389/fsurg.2022.900396/full#supplementary-material.

Conflict of Interest

The authors declare that the research was conducted in the absence of any commercial or financial relationships that could be construed as a potential conflict of interest.

Publisher's Note

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