Splenic Artery Embolization after Delayed Splenic Rupture Following Blunt Trauma: Is Nonoperative Management Still an Option in This Cohort?

Patients treated with splenic artery embolization (SAE) >48 hours after a blunt injury for a delayed splenic rupture (DSR) were assessed for the need for a subsequent splenectomy. Thirty-four patients underwent SAE for DSR over 10 years at our level 1 trauma center, performed at a median of 4.5 days after the injury (interquartile range = 5.5), and the patients were followed up for a median of 11 months (interquartile range = 31). There were 3 occurrences of rebleeds, and 2 patients required splenectomy (5.9%). This study showed that treatment with SAE after DSR results in splenic salvage in 94.1% of patients.

Automated summary

In patients with delayed splenic rupture, treatment with splenic artery embolization (SAE) can result in splenic salvage in the majority of cases, with a low rate of rebleeding after the procedure.