[Spleen-preserving surgery after blunt abdominal trauma with splenic hilum involvement]

Abstract

Background: Splenic involvement secondary to blunt abdominal trauma is often treated by performing a splenectomy. The severity of the post-splenectomy syndrome is currently well known (blood loss, sepsis), so there is an increasing tendency to preserve the spleen. The case is presented of splenic preservation after blunt abdominal trauma with hilum involvement, emphasising the role of Floseal as a haemostatic agent, as well as the use of resorbable meshes to preserve the spleen.

Clinical case: A 22-year-old woman presenting with a grade IV splenic lesion secondary to a blunt abdominal trauma after a traffic accident. Partial splenic resection was performed and bleeding was controlled with Floseal and use of a reinforcing polyglycolic acid mesh. No postoperative complications occurred, being discharged on day 5. The long-term follow-up has been uneventful.

Conclusion: The use of haemostatic agents such as thrombin and the gelatine gel (FloSeal) and the use of polyglycolic acid meshes enable spleen-preserving surgery, making it a feasible and reproducible procedure and an alternative to classical splenectomy.

Keywords: Agente hemostático quirúrgico; Bazo; Blunt abdominal trauma; Esplenectomía parcial; Malla reabsorbible; Partial splenectomy; Resorbable mesh; Spleen; Surgical haemostatic agent; Traumatismo abdominal cerrado.