Splenic abscess caused by Streptococcus anginosus following laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy: a case report of a rare complication of bariatric surgery

Splenic abscess as a complication of laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy (LSG) is rare. There have only been six cases in the literature. In most of these cases, the classic predisposing factors for developing splenic abscess were absent, leading to the hypothesis that transient bacteraemia caused by mucosal disruption during the surgical procedure and splenic ischaemia may play a role. These patients usually present in the late post-operative period with abdominal pain, fever and leucocytosis. The preferred treatment is intravenous antibiotics and percutaneous drainage or splenectomy. We report a case of splenic abscess caused by Streptococcus anginosus that occurred 20 days after LSG in a 45-year-old woman without immunosuppressive conditions. The patient was successfully treated with antibiotic therapy and percutaneous drainage.