The Management of Splenic Injuries

Area of Science:

• Trauma Surgery
• Interventional Radiology

Background:

• Splenic injuries are common abdominal trauma, often leading to life-threatening hemorrhagic shock due to high vascularity.
• Effective hemostasis is critical for managing splenic injuries.

Purpose of the Study:

• To review the critical management strategies for splenic injuries.
• To highlight the role of non-operative management and transcatheter arterial embolization (TAE) in spleen preservation.

Main Methods:

• Review of management principles based on hemodynamic status and injury grade.
• Discussion of operative (splenectomy) versus non-operative approaches (conservative treatment, TAE).

Main Results:

• Splenectomy is indicated for hemodynamically unstable patients.
• Non-operative management, including TAE, is preferred when feasible, offering benefits in complications and cost-effectiveness.
• TAE significantly improves outcomes in non-operative splenic injury management.

Conclusions:

• Management of splenic injury requires prompt assessment of hemodynamic stability and injury severity.
• Non-operative management, particularly with TAE, is a valuable strategy for spleen preservation and improved patient outcomes.