[Results of organ saving splenic surgery]

The charts of the 24 patients we treated in the past 7 years with spleen conserving methods after trauma and of the 13 patients we treated with splenic autotransplants were reviewed for this study. The results demonstrate, that the conservation of an injured spleen, desirable in adults too, is possible in appropriate cases without greater risk. Infrared coagulation and fibrin sealing proved as safe techniques, that can be augmented by others. Patients with subcapsular hematomas of the spleen can be left normally without operation in absence of other intraabdominal injuries; in these cases meticulous surveillance with the possibility of operations and ultrasound examinations at any time is necessary because of the risk of delayed bleeding. In the meantime we gave up the autotransplantation of splenic tissue after splenectomy for complications and doubts in the efficiency.