ABSTRACT
Objective To assess the value of emergency interventional embolization in treating traumatic spleen rupture. Methods A total of 74 patients with traumatic spleen rupture, who were encountered at authors’ hospital during the period from July 2007 to July 2013, were enrolled in this study. The clinical data were retrospectively analyzed. The patients were divided into embolization group (n = 38) and surgery group (n = 36). Interventional splenic artery embolization was carried out in the patients of the embolization group, and surgical repair was employed in the patients of the surgery group. The operation time, the amount of blood loss during the procedure, the hospitalization days, the preservation rate of the spleen and the occurrence of procedure- related adverse events were recorded, and the results were compared between the two groups. Results No significant difference in the operation time existed between the two groups (P = 0.061). The amount of blood loss during the procedure, the hospitalization days and the occurrence of procedure- related adverse events in the embolization group were significantly lower than those in the surgery group (P < 0.05), while the preservation rate of the spleen of the embolization group was significantly higher than that of the surgery group (P = 0.026). Conclusion Emergency interventional embolization is a safe procedure for the treatment of traumatic spleen rupture, this technique can improve the preservation rate of the spleen when compared with traditional surgical repair treatment.