title: Splenic injury due to colonoscopy: nursing considerations.
abstract: Complications associated with the performance of a colonoscopy are low. Splenic tearing or trauma postcolonoscopy is a rare but serious complication. Identification of a splenic injury is difficult because of the nonspecific nature of the patient's symptoms. A meta-analysis approach was used to identify common risk factors, onset and presentation of symptoms, and procedural difficulty associated with splenic injury postcolonoscopy. A review of 10 published case studies and 1 case presented by the author were compared with published findings for patients sustaining a splenic injury following colonoscopy. Potential common signs and symptoms as well as common risks factors were identified. Nursing considerations for the identification of high-risk patients and postprocedure symptoms are outlined. Early detection of this rare complication is difficult, but having a high level of suspicion can help to identify patients at risk for sustaining a splenic injury during colonoscopy.
authors: Short Stay Unit/Endoscopy, McKenzie Willamette Medical Center, Springfield, Oregon 97477 , USA. rbit@comcast.net
authors: Richard D
authors: RD
authors: Bittler
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D003113:Colonoscopy / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000379:methods; D042241:Early Diagnosis; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D007049:Iatrogenic Disease; D015994:Incidence; D015601:Injury Severity Score; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009730:Nursing Assessment; D013156:Splenectomy / Q000379:methods; D013161:Splenic Rupture / Q000209:etiology* / Q000451:nursing* / Q000628:therapy; D016896:Treatment Outcome