Complications Following Splenic Embolization for Trauma: Have Things Changed Over Time?

Area of Science:

• Trauma Surgery
• Interventional Radiology

Background:

• Splenic artery embolization (SAE) is a standard procedure for nonoperative management (NOM) of blunt splenic injury (BSI).
• Understanding the adverse event profile of SAE is crucial for optimizing patient care.

Purpose of the Study:

• To determine the rate and types of adverse events following SAE for BSI.
• To compare current SAE complication data with historical data from the same institution.

Main Methods:

• Retrospective review of patients undergoing SAE for BSI between 2011 and 2018.
• Categorization of complications into major (splenic abscess, infarction, renal insufficiency) and minor (fever, pleural effusions, coil migration).
• Comparison of complication rates with a prior study (2000-2010).

Main Results:

• SAE was performed in 74 (13.3%) of 557 NOM patients with BSI.
• The overall complication rate was 33.8%, with major complications in 14.9% and minor in 18.9%.
• No significant association was found between coil location and complications.

Conclusions:

• SAE remains a valuable adjunct in the nonoperative management of blunt splenic injury.
• Fewer minor complications were observed in the recent study period compared to historical data.
• Ongoing vigilance for adverse events associated with SAE for BSI is warranted.