Summary:
Introduction: Non-surgical approach in blunt injuries of the liver and spleen in patients haemodynamically
stable, is widely accepted as their therapeutical method of choice. Based on a retrospective analysis, the aim of
this study is to assess the injured patients with blunt injuries of the liver and spleen who were treated
non-surgically.
Subjects and Methodology: 75 injured patients with blunt intraabdominal injuries were hospitalized from
2001 to 2003. The spleen injuries were diagnosed in 40 patients, out of which 12 of themsuffered from concomittent
injuries of other intraabdominal organs, the liver injuries were diagnosed in 37 cases, out of which 24 injuries
were isolated. The non-surgical approach was indicated in haemodynamically stable patients with isolated
injuries of the spleen and the liver of the Ist–IVth grade with haemoperitoneum up to 300 ml, diagnosed on a spiral
CT examination.
Results: 47 (63%) patients were urgently operated for intraabdominal injuries, 7 of them (15%) exited within
30 days after the surgery. The non-surgical approach was indicated in 28 (37%) cases. In this group, 19 patients
suffered from liver injuries, 7 from spleen injuries and 2 from pancreatic injuries. The severity of the injury was
classified as the Ist degree in 7 patients, as the IInd degree in 7 patients, as the IIIrd degree in 7 patients and as
the IVth degree in 5 patients. The non-surgical procedure failed in 5 (19%) cases of patients with IIIrd or IVth
degree liver or spleen injuries. The failure was caused by a delayed bleeding from the injured spleen in 3 patients
and by a continuous bleeding in the IVth degree liver injury and the bile collection from the biliary bladder rupture
in the patient with the IIIrd degree liver injury. The spleen injury was treated using splenectomy. In the IVth
degree liver injury a debridement of the dilacerated tissue of the 7th segment and a ligature of the injured branch
of the right hepatic vein, were conducted. The patient with the IIIrd degree injury was treated using cholecystectomy
with a suture of the liver rupture. Conclusion: The non-surgical approach to the treatment of the isolated blunt liver and spleen injuries is
indicated for the injured patients who are haemodynamicaly stable, with Ist – IVth degree injuries, without or
with minor (up to 300 ml) haemoperitoneum and with continuous intensive care. The non- surgical approach to
the higher degree blunt liver and spleen injuries has higher treatment failure risk rates.
Key words:
blunt injuries of the liver and spleen – non-surgical approach – indications
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