Early hypovolemic shock and abdominal distention due to neonatal splenic rupture: urgency of diagnosis and management

Splenic rupture in the neonatal period is a rare condition that can be complicated by hemorrhagic shock. The symptoms are not very specific, rendering the diagnosis difficult and often delayed; sometimes only discovered at autopsy. We report five cases diagnosed in the Rhone-Alpes region of France. From these observations and from a review of the literature, the circumstances of the occurrence, the clinical signs, and the therapeutic possibilities are discussed. In the presence of severe anemia with pallor and abdominal distension, particularly in the context of a difficult birth, an abdominal ultrasound must be urgently performed and surgical management promptly considered.