SPLENIC INJURY

Course overview

INJURIES TO THE SPLEEN ARE ONE OF THE MOST COMMON INJURIES IN ABDOMINAL TRAUMA. THE SPLEEN IS THE MOST VASCULAR ORGAN IN THE BODY. SINCE BLEEDING IN SPLENIC INJURIES IS MAINLY ARTERIAL, SIGNIFICANT HAEMOPERITONEUM CAN OCCUR. UNRECOGNIZED INJURY CAN BE A CAUSE OF PREVENTABLE TRAUMATIC DEATH. THIS ACTIVITY REVIEWS THE FRAMEWORK FOR THE EVALUATION AND INITIAL MANAGEMENT OF PATIENTS WITH ABDOMINAL TRAUMA WITH A SUSPECTED INJURY OF THE SPLEEN AND HIGHLIGHTS THE ROLE OF THE INTERPROFESSIONAL TEAM IN MANAGING THE PATIENTS PRESENTING WITH IT.