Add like
Add dislike
Add to saved papers

Recent changes in the management of blunt splenic injury: effect on splenic trauma patients and hospital implications.

INTRODUCTION: Management of blunt splenic injury has been controversial with an increasing trend towards splenic conservation. A retrospective study was performed to identify the effect of this changed policy on splenic trauma patients and its implications.

PATIENTS AND METHODS: Data regarding patient demography, mode of splenic injury, CT grading, blood transfusion requirement, operative findings hospital stay and follow-up were collected. Statistical analysis of the data was performed using nonparametric Mann-Whitney tests

RESULTS: Over an 8-year period, only 21 patients were admitted with blunt splenic injury. Ten patients were managed operatively and 11 non-operatively. Non-operative management failed in one patient due to continued bleeding. Using Buntain's CT grading, the majority of grades I and II splenic injuries were managed non-operatively and grades III and IV were managed operatively ( P = 0.008). Blood transfusion requirement was significantly higher among the operative group (P = 0.004) but the non-operative group had a significantly longer hospital stay (P = 0.029). Among those managed non-operatively (median age, 24.5 years), a number of patients were followed up with CT scans with significant radiation exposure and unknown longterm consequences.

CONCLUSIONS: Non-operative management of blunt splenic trauma in adults can be performed with an acceptable outcome. Although CT is classed as the 'gold standard', initial imaging for detection and evaluation of blunt splenic injury, ultrasound can play a major role in follow-up imaging and potentially avoids major radiation exposure.

Full text links

We have located links that may give you full text access.
Can't access the paper?
Try logging in through your university/institutional subscription. For a smoother one-click institutional access experience, please use our mobile app.

For the best experience, use the Read mobile app

Mobile app image

Get seemless 1-tap access through your institution/university

For the best experience, use the Read mobile app

All material on this website is protected by copyright, Copyright © 1994-2024 by WebMD LLC.
This website also contains material copyrighted by 3rd parties.

By using this service, you agree to our terms of use and privacy policy.

Your Privacy Choices Toggle icon

You can now claim free CME credits for this literature searchClaim now

Get seemless 1-tap access through your institution/university

For the best experience, use the Read mobile app