Nonoperative management of splenic injury grade IV is safe using rigid protocol

To demonstrate the protocol and experience of our service in the nonoperative management (NOM) of grade IV blunt splenic injuries.

This is a retrospective study based on trauma registry of a university hospital between 1990-2010. Charts of all patients with splenic injury were reviewed and patients with grade IV lesions treated nonoperatively were included in the study.

ninety-four patients with grade IV blunt splenic injury were admitted during this period. Twenty-six (27.6%) met the inclusion criteria for NOM. The average systolic blood pressure on admission was 113.07 ± 22.22 mmHg, RTS 7.66 ± 0.49 and ISS 18.34 ± 3.90. Ten patients (38.5%) required blood transfusion, with a mean of 1.92 ± 1.77 packed red cells per patient. Associated abdominal injuries were present in two patients (7.7%). NOM failed in two patients (7.7%), operated on due to worsening of abdominal pain and hypovolemic shock. No patient developed complications related to the spleen and there were no deaths in this series. Average length of hospital stay was 7.12 ± 1.98 days.

Nonoperative treatment of grade IV splenic injuries in blunt abdominal trauma is safe when a rigid protocol is followed.