J Korean Surg Soc.  2004 Nov;67(5):390-396.

Repeat CT Scan for Non-operative Management of Blunt Splenic Trauma

• Cho YP
• Jung SM
• Han MS
• Jang HJ
• Kim YH
• Choi YB

Abstract

PURPOSE
This study was performed to evaluate the value of repeated CT scans for the non-operative management of patients with clinically stable blunt splenic trauma. METHODS: 49 consecutive patients with blunt splenic trauma were prospectively studied. Of these, 29 (59.2%) were initially managed non-operatively according to their clinical status and initial CT findings. A repeat CT scan was obtained within 7 days of admission. RESULTS: Of the 29 non-operatively managed patients, 5 (17.2%) required delayed surgical intervention: 3 presented with a change in thier clinical status, whereas the other 2 did not. In all 5 patients, a repeat CT scan revealed a deteriorating appearance of the splenic injury: active bleeding or an increased hematoma in 3, with splenic artery pseudoaneurysms in the other 2. CONCLUSION: This initial experience suggests that a repeat CT scan can provide valuable clinical information in selected cases on the diagnosis and management of a splenic injury to document the healing or progression of the injury.

Keyword

Spleen; Injuries; Tomography; X-Ray computed; Therapy

MeSH Terms

Aneurysm, False
Diagnosis
Hematoma
Hemorrhage
Humans
Prospective Studies
Spleen
Splenic Artery
Tomography, X-Ray Computed*