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


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.
Sinha
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S
Department of Surgery, Royal Glamorgan Hospital, Ynysmaerdy, Llantrisant, UK. sinhasurajit@hotmail.com
Raja
S V V
SV
Lewis
M H
MH
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D002648:Child; D004739:England; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D013154:Spleen / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000293:injuries*; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014949:Wounds, Nonpenetrating / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000628:therapy*