Preoperative Angioembolization for Spleen Preservation in Grade IV Spleen Injury with Combined Abdominal Trauma

Article information

Trauma Image Proced. 2017;2(2):79-83

Publication date (electronic) : 2017 November 21

doi : https://doi.org/10.24184/tip.2017.2.2.79

Chan Yong Park^,¹, Seon Hee Kim ¹, Hyun Min Cho ¹, Hoon Kwon ², Chang Ho Jeon ², Chang Won Kim ²

¹Department of Trauma Surgery, Pusan National University Hospital, Busan, Korea

²Department of Radiology, Pusan National University Hospital, Busan, Korea

Correspondence to: Chan Yong Park, Department of Trauma Surgery, Pusan National University Hospital, Busan, Korea, 179, Gudeok-Ro, Seo-Gu, Busan, 49241, Korea Tel: 82-51-240-7369, Fax: 82-51-240-7719, E-mail: wkafyddl@hanmail.net

Received 2017 November 2; Revised 2017 November 8; Accepted 2017 November 8.

Abstract

A 51-year-old man was admitted to the emergency department. A grade IV spleen injury with contrast extravasation was revealed by an abdominal CT scan. We elected to perform an emergency laparotomy because of severe edema within the small intestines and bleeding from the greater omentum. For a safe preservation of the spleen, a transcatheter arterial embolization was performed before the laparotomy. During the laparotomy, hemostatic agents such as thrombin and the gelatin gel (FloSeal^Ⓡ and Surgicel^Ⓡ were applied for bleeding control around the spleen. The patient was discharged without complications on 6^th day postoperatively.

Keywords: Grade IV spleen injury; Contrast extravasation; Spleen-preserving surgery; Transcatheter arterial embolization; Hemostatic agents

CASE

A 51-year-old man was admitted to the emergency department complaining of abdominal pain in the left upper quadrant after a traffic accident. The initial vital signs were stable: systolic blood pressure, 120/60 mmHg; pulse rate, 98 beats/min; respiration rate, 18 breaths/min; body temperature, 36.4 ℃; oxygen saturation, 97 % respectively. Laboratory examination revealed a WBC 23.3 x 10³/uL, Hb 12.7 g/dL, platelet 211 x 10³/uL, lactic acid 2.9 mmol/L, base excess -2.1. Abdominal CT revealed a grade IV spleen injury with a contrast extravasation, partial infarction in the left kidney, and a left adrenal hematoma (Fig. 1). We decided to undergo an emergency laparotomy because of severe edema of the small intestine and bleeding from the greater omentum (Fig. 2). We elected to perform a transcatheter arterial embolization (TAE) before the laparotomy to safely preserve the spleen. The spleen and left kidney were embolized at 66 minutes after admission. Histoacryl was used for the control of active bleeding from the spleen and gelfoam was used to reduce the blood flow in the injured area (Fig. 3). Then, a laparotomy was performed. Hemostatic agents such as thrombin and the gelatin gel (FloSeal^®) and Surgicel^® were applied for bleeding control around the spleen (Fig. 4). A follow-up abdominal CT was performed on the 4^th day after the surgery, and approximately one-quarter of the spleen was preserved with no evidence of bleeding (Fig. 5). Laboratory examination revealed WBC 12.7 x 10³/uL, Hb 11.4 g/dL, platelet 309 x 10³/uL. The patient was discharged without complications on 6^th day postoperatively.

Fig. 1.

Abdominal CT shows a contrast extravasation from mid portion (A, C) and inferior pole (B, D) of the spleen in axial and the coronal view.

Fig. 2.

Abdominal CT shows contrast extravasation near the greater curvature of the stomach (A, B) and severe swelling of the small intestine on the left side. (C, D)

Fig. 3.

Transcatheter arterial angiography shows active bleeding from the spleen (A). Therefore, embolization was performed using histocryl (B). A splenic angiography was performed again, and an overall oozing pattern was observed(C). Gelfoam was used to reduce the blood flow in the injured area of the spleen. Then a little spleen parenchyma was imaged (D).

Fig. 4.

A hematoma is seen in the perisplenic space on laparotomy(A). After removal of the hematoma, hemostatic agents (Surgicel and Floseal) were applied (B).

Fig. 5.

A follow-up abdominal CT was performed on the 4th day after surgery, and about 20% of the spleen was preserved with no evidence of bleeding.

DISCUSSION

Grade IV spleen injury caused by blunt abdominal trauma is usually treated with a TAE or splenectomy. Splenectomy is frequently performed if laparotomy is necessary due to other combined abdominal injuries.

However, Kristinsson et al. [1] reported the importance of the spleen in a study of 8,149 cancer-free veterans who followed up for 27-years after splenectomy. They found that the risk of hospitalization for pneumonia, meningitis, septicemia, DVT, pulmonary embolism, and cancer increased in patients who underwent splenectomy. Skattum et al. [2] also emphasized the immune function of the spleen and the risk of overwhelming postsplenectomy infection. Demetriades et al. [3] reported that splenectomy is an independent risk factor for early infectious complications. Therefore, it is very important to preserve the spleen in splenic injuries. Even if surgery is unavoidable, spleen-preserving surgery should be considered. Spleen-preserving or spleen-tissue-conserving surgery is a favorable surgical procedure for spleen injury [4]. Spleen-preserving surgery reduces mortality, postoperative complications, and length of hospital stay [5]. Therefore, we attempted to preserve the spleen in a patient with grade IV spleen injury with active bleeding which required an emergency laparotomy due to other combined abdominal injuries. So we performed a laparotomy after TAE to preserve the spleen without manipulation of the spleen during surgery.

Selective embolization of splenic injuries can lead to complications such as continuous bleeding, splenic infarcts, and splenic abscesses. Proximal embolization of the splenic artery (PSAE) reduces splenic blood pressure with ischemia with the help of a collateral blood supply [6]. In this case, histoacryl was used for hemostasis of the active bleeding locations in the spleen, and gelfoam was used to reduce the blood flow in the injured area of the spleen. This method was performed to prevent bleeding from the collateral blood supply.

After resolution of other combined abdominal injuries during operation, hemostasis was performed using hemostatic agents (FloSeal^® and Surgicel^®) around the spleen. Thanks to TAE, there was no active bleeding from the spleen during the operation.

Several methods have been attempted to preserve the spleen in patients requiring laparotomy. Ligation in the proximal and middle part of the splenic artery for spleen-preservation [5, 7] and partial resection of the spleen is performed [8, 9]. There is also a recent report on spleen auto transplantation [10].

We believe that the use of TAE before surgery in patients with spleen injury with active bleeding requiring laparotomy may be helpful in spleen-preservation and could shorten the time of operation.

Notes

Conflict of Interest Statement

None of authors has a conflict of interest.

References

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