Splenic injury: diagnosis and management

Splenic rupture or infarction associated with Epstein-Barr virus infectious mononucleosis: a systematic literature review

BACKGROUND

Epstein-Barr virus (EBV), also known as human herpesvirus 4, is one of the most common pathogenic viruses in humans. EBV mononucleosis always involves the spleen and as such it predisposes to splenic rupture, often without a trauma, and splenic infarction. Nowadays the goal of management is to preserve the spleen, thereby eliminating the risk of post-splenectomy infections.

METHODS

To characterise these complications and their management, we performed a systematic review (PROSPERO CRD42022370268) following PRISMA guidelines in three databases: Excerpta Medica, the United States National Library of Medicine, and Web of Science. Articles listed in Google Scholar were also considered. Eligible articles were those describing splenic rupture or infarction in subjects with Epstein-Barr virus mononucleosis.

RESULTS

In the literature, we found 171 articles published since 1970, documenting 186 cases with splenic rupture and 29 with infarction. Both conditions predominantly occurred in males, 60% and 70% respectively. Splenic rupture was preceded by a trauma in 17 (9.1%) cases. Approximately 80% (n = 139) of cases occurred within three weeks of the onset of mononucleosis symptoms. A correlation was found between the World Society of Emergency Surgery splenic rupture score, which was retrospectively calculated, and surgical management: splenectomy in 84% (n = 44) of cases with a severe score and in 58% (n = 70) of cases with a moderate or minor score (p = 0.001). The mortality rate of splenic rupture was 4.8% (n = 9). In splenic infarction, an underlying haematological condition was observed in 21% (n = 6) of cases. The treatment of splenic infarction was always conservative without any fatal outcomes.

CONCLUSIONS

Similarly to traumatic splenic rupture, splenic preservation is increasingly common in the management of mononucleosis-associated cases as well. This complication is still occasionally fatal. Splenic infarction often occurs in subjects with a pre-existing haematological condition.

Caracterización de pacientes con trauma esplénico atendidos en un hospital de tercer nivel entre enero de 2000 y diciembre de 2017

Introducción. Es frecuente (46 %) que la lesión esplénica se acompañe de otra lesión visceral concomitante, con una alta tasa de morbimortalidad. La evolución de las técnicas para el abordaje de estas lesiones incluye procedimientos quirúrgicos, intervencionistas y de manejo expectante. Métodos. Se trata de un estudio con cohorte única retrospectiva y observacional. Se incluyeron pacientes mayores de 13 años de edad con trauma esplénico, atendidos entre enero de 2000 y diciembre de 2017. Se describieron las características relacionadas con el proceso de atención. Resultados. Se identificaron 116 pacientes con trauma esplénico, el 85,2 % de ellos hombres, con una edad promedio de 26 años. El 75,9 % de los pacientes presentaba lesiones concomitantes; las más frecuentes fueron de diafragma (31,0 %), de hígado (17,2 %) y de riñón (11,2 %). Los mecanismos de lesión más frecuentes fueron por arma corto-punzante (29,3 %), por arma de fuego (22,4 %) y por accidentes de tránsito (22,4 %). La gravedad fue clasificada como de grado V en el 24,1 % de los pacientes y de grado I en el 23,3 %. Se practicó esplenectomía total en el 39,7 % de los pacientes y el 15,2 % fue manejado de forma conservadora. La mortalidad fue del 4,3 %, tres casos en el posoperatorio inmediato (menos de 24 horas) y dos en la primera semana posoperatoria. Discusión. El manejo conservador de las lesiones esplénicas de poca gravedad es una estrategia segura y efectiva, con una tasa de fracaso de menos del 5. El abordaje quirúrgico se reserva para lesiones de mayor gravedad y su relación con otros órganos lesionados, con una mayor morbimortalidad (63 %)

Intermittent Splenic Artery Occlusion Plus Gauze Compression Is a Simple and Effective Treatment for Iatrogenic Splenic Injury

Background

The aim of this study was to evaluate the feasibility and safety of intermittent splenic artery occlusion plus gauze compression in treating iatrogenic splenic injury.

Material/Methods

We retrospectively analyzed 12 iatrogenic splenic injury cases (grade I to III) treated with intermittent splenic artery occlusion plus gauze compression. The hemostatic effect was then observed after unblocking and decompression. The total operation time, gauze compression time, total blood loss, blood loss from the injured spleen, and platelet counts of each patient before and 1 week after surgery were noted.

Results

The average operation time was 209.58±57.11 min, and the average gauze compression time after spleen artery occlusion was 23.75±4.33 min. The average total blood loss and blood loss due to iatrogenic spleen injury were 468.33±138.22 ml and 264.17±165.72 ml, respectively. Two cases (both grade I) had successful hemostasis after 15 min of splenic artery occlusion and wound compression. Another 9 cases (all grade II) and 1 case (grade III) attained hemostasis after 25 min and 30 min, respectively, of splenic artery occlusion and wound compression. The platelet counts of all patients were within the normal range before and 1 week after surgery. No postoperative complications occurred.

Conclusions

Intermittent splenic artery occlusion plus gauze compression is a simple and effective treatment for iatrogenic splenic injury.

Role of contrast-enhanced ultrasound (CEUS) in the diagnosis and management of traumatic splenic injuries

Splenic injuries are common emergencies in the setting of abdominal trauma, as the spleen is the second most frequently injured abdominal organ after the liver. The treatment of splenic injuries underwent a severe shift from operative to non-operative due to an increased awareness of the double physiological function, both immunological and hematological, of the spleen. This, in turn, led to an increased application of splenic preservation techniques. The non-operative approach has been strengthened through radiological imaging and interventional radiology. While multidetector computed tomography is mandatory in the evaluation of hemodynamically stable patients after high-energy trauma, one ultrasound (US) can be used as a first-line technique to examine patients in cases of low-energy trauma. Unfortunately, baseline US has low sensitivity in the detection of traumatic injuries. With the introduction of contrast-enhanced ultrasound (CEUS) as a reliable alternative to baseline ultrasound for low-grade abdominal trauma, the sensitivity of the US technique in recognizing traumatic abdominal lesions has strongly increased, reaching levels of accuracy similar to those of the CT. It has also been strongly recommended for use with children, as it allows for the performance of imaging techniques with the lowest dose of radiation possible. In this review, the authors aim to present the typical appearance of traumatic splenic injuries, using enhanced CEUS capability to overcome baseline US limits, and to describe the different techniques applied according to the hemodynamic stability of the patient.