Delayed Complications of Nonoperative Management of Blunt Adult Splenic Trauma

Abstract

AS SURGEONS have become more comfortable with nonoperative management of splenic injuries in both children and adults,^1-4 the traditional indications for nonoperative management have liberalized. This trend is pushed further by today's managed care environment, as physicians and administrators look for ways to cut costs without sacrificing quality of care. We wondered if relaxing the criteria for nonoperative management or changing the monitoring and follow-up was potentially harmful to patients. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to identify delayed (>48 hours) complications directly attributable to the nonoperative management of splenic injury in adults.