Isolated blunt splenic injury: do we transfuse more in an attempt to operate less?
OBJECTIVE
To determine if blood transfusion requirements in patients with isolated blunt splenic injury (BSI) are greater if they are managed nonoperatively, we did a retrospective case study of patients with isolated BSI who were seen at a Canadian university teaching hospital over a 10-year period.


METHODS
Data such as number of units of packed erythrocytes transfused and mortality in the 75 patients with isolated BSI seen from 1992 to 2002 were separated into operative and nonoperative management groups.


RESULTS
In the operative management group (n = 10), patients received more transfused erythrocytes (3.0 v. 0.7 units), and a higher proportion of patients were transfused (80% v. 20%). There were no deaths in either group.


CONCLUSIONS
In the management of isolated BSI, initial nonoperative management does not increase patients' requirements for blood transfusion.
Balaa
Fady
F
Department of Surgery, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, Ont.
Yelle
Jean-Denis
JD
Pagliarello
Giuseppe
G
Lorimer
John
J
O'Brien
Jo-Anne
JA
D017707:Erythrocyte Transfusion / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D006801:Humans; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D013156:Splenectomy; D013161:Splenic Rupture / Q000209:etiology / Q000628:therapy*; D014949:Wounds, Nonpenetrating / Q000150:complications*