Diagnosis and successful repair of the ruptured spleen or liver in the newborn is rare. More autopsy diagnoses are reported1-3 of this complication of delivery than diagnoses of surviving cases.3-5 A case is reported where the diagnosis of a ruptured normal spleen was established and splenectomy was performed within the first 24 hours of life. The usefulness of the available diagnostic clinical and roentgenographic signs is discussed.
Report of a Case.—A 3.975-kg male infant was born after an uncomplicated 40-week gestation to a 17-year-old woman. Pertinent status of the mother was as follows: gravida 3, para 2, negative VDRL, and a blood type of group B, Rh positive. Labor was 2½ hours' duration. A pudendal block was used. Rupture of the membranes occurred 30 minutes before delivery; the baby was a vertex presentation. The one-minute Apgar score was 9. Maternal blood loss was estimated to be 300 mL. Cord blood