[Intra-abdominal hemorrhage in splenic injuries]

The authors present a series of 36 patients operated on for severe intraabdominal bleeding due to spleen trauma. Patients were treated from 02. December 1987 till 30. June 1988 in Emergency Center-Surgical Clinic-University Clinical Center Belgrade (Institute of digestive pathology). The standard operative procedure has been removal because splenic salvage is unreasonable if there is ungoing bleeding and multiple associated injuries. Splenectomy was performed in 32 (88 percent). Overall mortality rate was 9%. Authors want to stress out the role of team in successful treatment of polytraumatized patients.