[Differential indications of conservative and surgical possibilities of treating splenic rupture]

Conservative therapy of splenic trauma in the adult cannot be recommended, since 2/3 of patients with polytrauma will prove to have additional abdominal organ lacerations. The new methods of local haemostasis, suture and partial resection and their application and contraindications according to Barrett's classification of splenic trauma are discussed. Our own salvage rate has been 50% (70/140) in trauma and 77% (116/151) in iatrogenic lacerations during the past 5 years.