title: Splenorrhaphy in the management of splenic injury.
abstract: A retrospective study of 301 adult splenic injuries presenting to the Princess Alexandra Hospital during a 15 year period, from 1970 to 1984, was conducted. Particular attention was paid to the last 5 years during which 25% of the ruptured spleens were preserved. The details of the preserved spleens are discussed. Respiratory infections were the only complications in this same selected group of patients; the complication rate being higher in the splenectomy group (15.8%) than the splenorrhaphy group (6.25%). None of the cases of splenorrhaphy required re-operation for continued haemorrhage. Twenty-five per cent of all cases of splenic injury had associated intra-abdominal injury which, of its own nature, would require laparotomy. A policy of operative management for splenic injury in adults with major trauma is therefore proposed because of the rate of associated intra-abdominal injuries. When laparotomy is performed, splenorrhaphy should be considered because of the now widely acknowledged risks of diminished immunological competence and overwhelming sepsis in asplenic individuals.
authors.forename: N R
authors.initials: NR
authors.lastname: Wetzig
authors.forename: R W
authors.initials: RW
authors.lastname: Strong
authors.forename: D E
authors.initials: DE
authors.lastname: Theile
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008499:Medical Records; D008875:Middle Aged; D011183:Postoperative Complications; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D013154:Spleen / Q000293:injuries / Q000601:surgery*; D013156:Splenectomy; D013161:Splenic Rupture / Q000601:surgery*