Torsión esplénica con localización inusual, reporte de caso / Splenic torsion with unusual location, case report

Resumen El bazo errante es una entidad clínica muy poco frecuente en niños, representando menos del 0.25% de todas las esplenectomías. Puede ocurrir por la ausencia congénita de ligamentos suspensorios del bazo, o debido a una laxitud adquirida de los mismos. El espectro clínico va desde condición asintomática con hallazgo incidental, hasta presentación de abdomen agudo. El conocimiento de esta condición y de sus hallazgos radiológicos, juegan un papel esencial para lograr un diagnóstico correcto y tratamiento quirúrgico oportuno. La preservación del bazo más esplenopexia es el procedimiento de elección. Se presenta un paciente de 4 años con antecedente de cirugía antirreflujo, en quien se encontró bazo ectópico errante con torsión esplénica, que fue manejado exitosamente con conservación del bazo y esplenopexia. MÉD.UIS.2021;34(1): 113-18

Abstract Wandering spleen is an uncommon clinical entity in children, representing less than 0,25% of all splenectomies. It is caused by laxity or absence of the supporting splenic ligaments. Its clinical spectrum varies from asymptomatic disease with incidental finding to acute abdominal pain due to torsion. The knowledge of this condition and its radiological findings plays a crucial role in reaching the correct diagnosis and timely surgical treatment. Spleen preservation with splenopexy is recognized as the procedure of choice. We report a case of a four year old patient with a history of anti-reflux surgery, with a wandering spleen and splenic torsion, successfully managed with spleen conservation and splenopexy. MÉD.UIS.2021;34(1): 113-18

Acute Torsion of a Wandering Spleen Managed by Splenopexy

Torsion of the spleen is a rare cause of abdominal pain in children and it may occur in conjunction with wandering spleen. Wandering spleen is the presence of the spleen in a location other than the left upper quadrant, and it is secondary to the congenital or functional absence of splenic ligaments. The occurrence of wandering spleen is rare in adults and it's even less common in children. The most common presentation is acute abdominal pain, although the signs and symptoms vary widely. Due to the risk of splenic infarction, making a rapid and accurate diagnosis is essential. When a wandering spleen is diagnosed, the treatment of choice is splenopexy, even if the patient is asymptomatic. If splenic necrosis is present, then splenectomy is usually required. We describe here a 4-year-old girl with torsion of a wandering spleen that was managed by splenopexy.

Splenopexy for Wandering Spleen with Torsion in a Child

Torsion of the wandering spleen is a rare condition especially in children. Unfortunatly, splenectomy was the advocated treatment of choice for wandering spleen in many children up to 1985 in spite of the well-known possibility of overwhelming postsplenectomy sepsis. Because of the conclusive evidence of the vital function of the spleen in infection, indication of splenectomy have been revised and more attention has been paid to preserving the spleen where possible. We are presented a girl with splenic torsion, seen as a migratory abdominal mass and intermittent vague abdominal pain. Splenopexy by fixation of the spleen to the diaphragm and posterolateral peritoneum and the use of A vitene in the splenic bed was successfully performed. Complete fixation of the spleen was confirmed by ultrasound a year after this procedure was carried out. The clinical pesentation, etiology, diagnostic procedures and management are discussed also.