Pediatric Splenic Injury: Nonoperative Management First!

The management and outcome of paediatric splenic injuries in the Netherlands

Background

Non-operative management (NOM) is generally accepted as a treatment method of traumatic paediatric splenic rupture. However, considerable variations in management exist. This study analyses local trends in aetiology and management of paediatric splenic injuries and evaluates the implementation of the guidelines proposed by the American Paediatric Surgical Association (APSA) in a level 1 trauma centre.

Methods

The charts of paediatric patients with blunt splenic injury (BSI) who were admitted or transferred to a level 1 trauma centre between 2003 and 2020 were retrospectively assessed. Information pertaining to demographics, mechanism of injury, injury description, associated injuries, intervention and outcomes were analysed and compared to international literature.

Results

There were 130 patients with BSI identified (63.1% male), with a mean age of 11.3 ± 4.0 and a mean Injury Severity Score (ISS) of 21.6 ± 13.7. Bicycle accidents were the most common trauma mechanism (23.1%). Sixty-four percent were multi-trauma patients, 25% received blood transfusions, and 31% were haemodynamically unstable. Mean injury grade was 3.0, with 30% of patients having a high-grade injury. In total, 75% of patients underwent NOM with a 100% efficacy rate. Total splenectomy rate was 6.2%. Four patients died due to brain damage.

Patients with a high-grade BSI (grades IV–V) had a significantly higher ISS and longer bedrest and more often presented with an active blush on computed tomography (CT) scans than patients with a low-grade BSI (grades I–III). Non-operative management was mainly the choice of treatment in both groups (76.6% and 79.5%, respectively). Haemodynamic instability was a predictor for operative management (OM) (p = 0.001). Predictors for a longer length of stay (LOS) included concomitant injuries, haemodynamic instability and OM (all p < 0.02). Interobserver agreement in the grading of BSI is moderate, with a Cohens Kappa coefficient of 0.493.

Conclusion

Non-operative management has proven to be a realistic management approach in both low- and high-grade splenic injuries. Consideration for operative management should be based on haemodynamic instability. Compared to the anticipated length of bedrest and hospital stay outlined in the APSA guidelines, the Netherlands can reduce the length of bedrest and hospital stay through their non-operative management.

Level of evidence

Therapeutic study, level III

Supplementary Information

The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s13017-021-00353-4.

Professional practice assessment: establishment of an institutional procedure to treat blunt abdominal trauma in emergency pediatric department

OBJECTIVE

The clinical process for the diagnosis of intra-abdominal lesion due to blunt abdominal trauma in children is not consistent. The goal of the present study was to assess the efficiency of our institutional procedure to manage hemodynamically stable pediatric patients with benign abdominal trauma and to select patients who need a radiological examination in an emergency pediatric department.

MATERIAL AND METHODS

This was a prospective cohort study from June 2008 to June 2010 in a pediatric emergency department. Pediatric patients with benign abdominal trauma and with stable hemodynamic parameters were included in the study. We conducted first clinical examination and clinical laboratory assessment for blood count, platelet count, hematocrit, serum glutamo-oxalacétique transaminase (SGOT), serum glutamic pyruvic transaminase (SGPT), lipase and urine. A second clinical examination was performed 2 h later. Patients with biological abnormalities and/or with persistent pain underwent a computerized tomography (CT) of the abdomen. Our main criterion for judging was the presence of intra-abdominal lesion as revealed by the scan, which was considered as the gold standard. At the second clinical examination, patients without pain and with normal results for clinical laboratory assessment were sent home. A telephone call was made to the children 48 h after the visit to the hospital emergency department. The secondary criterion for judging was the absence of complication in children who did not undergo the scan.

RESULTS

A total of 111 children were included. Seventy-five children underwent the complete procedure. Thirty-four scans were performed. The scan revealed that 22 patients had an intra-abdominal lesion. Multivariate analysis indicated that SGOT higher than 34 IU/L and the persistence of pain for more than 2 h from the initial evaluation of trauma favored the development of intra-abdominal lesion. On the basis of these two criteria, we developed a predictive diagnostic score for post-traumatic intra-abdominal injuries with a high negative predictive value. For children who were sent home without a radiological examination, no complications were observed at 48 h after the visit to the emergency department.

CONCLUSION

The present protocol is a good approach to identify children at risk for intra-abdominal lesion who need a radiological examination and those who do not require any complementary examinations. The predictive diagnostic score could help young hospital doctors to assess blunt abdominal trauma.

Results of non-operative management of splenic trauma and its complications in children

Introduction:

Non-operative management (NOM) of splenic trauma in children is currently the treatment of choice.

Purpose:

We report a series of 83 cases in order to compare our results with literature data.

Patients and Methods:

For this, we conducted a retrospective study of 13 years and collected 83 cases of children with splenic trauma contusion, managed at Lapeyronie Montpellier Hospital in Visceral Pediatric Surgery Department. The studied parameters were age, sex, circumstances, the blood pressure (BP), hematology, imaging, associated injuries, transfusion requirements, treatment, duration of hospital stay, physical activity restriction and evolution.

Results:

NOM was successful in 98.7% of cases. We noted 4 complications including 3 pseudo aneurysms (PSA) of splenic artery and 1 pseudocyst spleen with a good prognosis. There was no mortality in our series.

Conclusion:

NOM is the treatment of choice for splenic trauma in children with a success rate of over 90%. Complications are rare and are dominated by the PSA of splenic artery.

Pediatric blunt splenic trauma: a comprehensive review

Abdominal trauma is a leading cause of death in children older than 1 year of age. The spleen is the most common organ injured following blunt abdominal trauma. Pediatric trauma patients present unique clinical challenges as compared to adults, including different mechanisms of injury, physiologic responses, and indications for operative versus nonoperative management. Splenic salvage techniques and nonoperative approaches are preferred to splenectomy in order to decrease perioperative risks, transfusion needs, duration/cost of hospitalization, and risk of overwhelming postsplenectomy infection. Early and accurate detection of splenic injury is critical in both adults and children; however, while imaging findings guide management in adults, hemodynamic stability is the primary determinant in pediatric patients. After initial diagnosis, the primary role of imaging in pediatric patients is to determine the level and duration of care. We present a comprehensive literature review regarding the mechanism of injury, imaging, management, and complications of traumatic splenic injury in pediatric patients. Multiple patients are presented with an emphasis on the American Association for the Surgery of Trauma organ injury grading system. Clinical practice guidelines from the American Pediatric Surgical Association are discussed and compared with our experience at a large community hospital, with recommendations for future practice guidelines.