Splenic and hepatic trauma: a three year review.

We present a three year study of 22 consecutive patients treated for splenic and liver injuries at Mpilo Central Hospital between 1988 and 1990. A total of eight patients died giving an overall mortality rate of 36 pc. There was no mortality recorded in nine patients (41 pc) treated for splenic injuries. However, of the nine patients (41 pc) treated for liver injuries four patients died giving a mortality rate of 44 pc in this group. The highest mortality rate was recorded in the group of patients with both splenic and liver injuries because these injuries were invariably associated with other severe multiple injuries. We admitted four patients (18 pc) in this group and they all died.