Splenorrhaphy versus splenectomy

Splenorrhaphy is considered a safety procedure in the traumatic splenic injury and should be attempted in all patients except when the spleen is shattered, or avulsed and in multiple concomitant injuries where splenectomy is advised. We report on 16 patients of traumatic splenic injuries from January 1988 to December 1988. In 10 patients (62.2%) splenorrhaphy was performed with catgut and omental patch reinforcement in addition to topical haemostatic synthetic material "Gelfoam" application with mortality of 10% due to unrelated causes. Splenectomy was performed in 6 patients (37.8%) with mortality of 2 patients (33.3%) due to multiple associated intra-abdominal injuries.