title: Improved outcome of adult blunt splenic injury: a cohort analysis.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The purpose of this study was to review our 15-year experience in the treatment of blunt splenic injury in adults. Our hypothesis was that the implementation of a change in practice, with stress on splenic preservation and splenic artery embolization for the management of splenic injury, would result in improved splenic salvage rates without negatively affecting mortality rates.
  
  
  METHODS
  A retrospective cohort analysis was performed on all consecutive adults with blunt splenic injury who were admitted to a Level One Trauma Center. The cohorts were defined by 2 separate 7.5-year periods (1991-1998 and 1998-2005).
  
  
  RESULTS
  Six hundred twenty-five patients with blunt splenic trauma were identified; 403 patients who were treated from 1998 to 2005 were compared with 222 patients whose cases had been reviewed previously (1991 to 1998). The present cohort differed in age (35 vs 40 years; P < .001) and injury severity score (27 vs 21; P < .0001). Nonoperative treatment was implemented in 136 patients (61%) in the initial cohort and 344 patients (85%) in the present cohort. The frequency of splenic artery embolization increased from 2.7% to 22.6% (P < .001). The success of nonoperative management increased from 77% to 96% (P < .001); the splenic salvage rate for all patients improved from 57% to 88% (P < .0001). Hospital mortality rates decreased from 12% to 6% (P < .001), and the mean hospital length of stay decreased from 15 to 9 days (P < .001).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  These results demonstrate that the success of nonoperative management and the splenic preservation for blunt injury has improved over time. This improvement correlated with a greater use of splenic artery embolization.
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery, Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine, MetroHealth Medical Center, Cleveland, Ohio, USA.
authors.forename: Ravi R
authors.initials: RR
authors.lastname: Rajani
authors.forename: Jeffrey A
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Claridge
authors.forename: Charles J
authors.initials: CJ
authors.lastname: Yowler
authors.forename: Pamela
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Patrick
authors.forename: Amanda
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Wiant
authors.forename: Jessica I
authors.initials: JI
authors.lastname: Summers
authors.forename: Amy A
authors.initials: AA
authors.lastname: McDonald
authors.forename: John J
authors.initials: JJ
authors.lastname: Como
authors.forename: Mark A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Malangoni
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D002648:Child; D015331:Cohort Studies; D003663:Decision Trees; D004621:Embolization, Therapeutic / Q000401:mortality / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D005260:Female; D017052:Hospital Mortality; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D013154:Spleen / Q000293:injuries*; D013156:Splenectomy / Q000401:mortality / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D013157:Splenic Artery; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014949:Wounds, Nonpenetrating / Q000401:mortality / Q000601:surgery* / Q000628:therapy*