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Splenectomy or splenorrhaphy for an isolated splenic laceration?
Abstract
Background: There is a new trend to treat some cases of splenic injury by splenorrhaphy rather than splenectomy.
Aim: To report a case of a splenic injury that gave rise to a massive haemoperitonium treated by splenorrhaphy.
Setting: Department of Surgery, Federal Medical Centre (now Federal Teaching Hospital, Abakaliki).
Case report: An 18-year-old female patient presented at the Accident and Emergency (A & E) Department of the Federal Medical Centre, Abakaliki, two days after falling from a 4-meter tall tree, complaining of a severe abdominal pain. She was treated at home with herbal concoctions both topical and oral. It was the passage of melaena stools, worsening abdominal pain and distension that forced her relations to rush her to hospital. At laparotomy, massive haemoperitoneum and a linear laceration of the spleen were discovered. A splenorrhaphy was performed. The patient did well postoperatively and was discharged home on the 12th postoperative day in good condition.
Conclusion: A passionate plea is made for a more conservative approach in the management of ruptured spleens by performing splenorrhaphy whenever possible.
Keywords: Splenectomy, Splenorrhaphy, Laceration, Abakaliki
Aim: To report a case of a splenic injury that gave rise to a massive haemoperitonium treated by splenorrhaphy.
Setting: Department of Surgery, Federal Medical Centre (now Federal Teaching Hospital, Abakaliki).
Case report: An 18-year-old female patient presented at the Accident and Emergency (A & E) Department of the Federal Medical Centre, Abakaliki, two days after falling from a 4-meter tall tree, complaining of a severe abdominal pain. She was treated at home with herbal concoctions both topical and oral. It was the passage of melaena stools, worsening abdominal pain and distension that forced her relations to rush her to hospital. At laparotomy, massive haemoperitoneum and a linear laceration of the spleen were discovered. A splenorrhaphy was performed. The patient did well postoperatively and was discharged home on the 12th postoperative day in good condition.
Conclusion: A passionate plea is made for a more conservative approach in the management of ruptured spleens by performing splenorrhaphy whenever possible.
Keywords: Splenectomy, Splenorrhaphy, Laceration, Abakaliki
