Selection of nonoperative management candidates.
The liver and spleen are the most commonly injured intraabdominal organs and comprise most of the injuries to the solid viscera during blunt abdominal injury. The contrast-enhanced computed tomography (CT) scan has emerged as an accurate, safe diagnostic tool for blunt torso trauma, making nonoperative management of even severe injury to the liver and spleen possible. This review concentrates on the trends, patient selection criteria, and some of the risks of nonoperative management of hemodynamically stable patients with blunt liver and spleen injury.
Schwab
C W
CW
Department of Surgery, University of Pennsylvania Medical Center, Philadelphia 19104, USA.
D006801:Humans; D008099:Liver / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000293:injuries*; D018579:Patient Selection; D013154:Spleen / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000293:injuries*; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed; D014949:Wounds, Nonpenetrating / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000628:therapy*