Nonoperative management of blunt splenic trauma in adults.

The management of isolated blunt splenic trauma in adults is controversial. The authors present a series of 17 patients with blunt splenic trauma who were selected for nonoperative management. Only one patient eventually required surgery, for a ruptured spleen. Complications included pneumonia (two cases) and pleural effusion, atelectasis and ileus (one case each). There were no deaths. Five patients required transfusion, for a total of 17 …