A safe surgical technique for the partial resection of the ruptured spleen. A clinical report

A consecutive series of 11 patients with an acute blunt splenic injury were treated with a 'safe resection' technique. 57% of the injured spleens (ran ge 35-100%) were saved. None of the patients had any signs of secondary ble eding in control CT scan and the mortality was zero. No second-look laparot omies were performed, Follow-up time was at least two months (range 2 month -6 yr). Operation time was in average 120 min. Total mean peroperative blee ding was 1400 mi. Partial resection may offer patient a change for normal function of the inj ured spleen. However, it is not yet known what is the critical mass of sple en tissue needed for humans. The follow-up time of the present study is sti ll too short to estimate this fact, but further studies may show the benefi t of the present method in avoiding serious long term immunological complic ations of splenectomy. This present study introduces a novel technique for partial resection of in jured spleen. Operation can be performed safely and quickly with a complica tion risk comparable to splenectomy. Resection is applicable even for multi -trauma patients. (C) 1999 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.