The conservative management of splenic trauma

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Abstract

Of 32 cases of suspected splenic rupture in children occurring from 1948 to 1955, only six required splenectomy. Sixteen of the remaining cases treated conservatively were studied in detail. Although the feasibility of conservative management of splenic injury following blunt abdominal trauma was demonstrated, laparotomy should be performed where major splenic trauma or other serious intraabdominal injuries, or both, are suspected.

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    Presented before the American Pediatric Surgical Association, Hamilton, Bermuda, April 22–24, 1971.

    1

    Resident in Surgery, The Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, Canada.

    2

    Associate, Department of Surgery, University of Toronto, and Associate Surgeon, The Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, Canada.

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