• Kenneth J Ransom and Michael S Kavic.
• St. Elizabeth Health Center, Youngstown, Ohio 44501-1790, USA.
• JSLS. 2008 Apr 1; 12 (2): 202-5.

BackgroundGrade III through V splenic injuries as defined by the American Association for the Surgery of Trauma (AAST) grading scale are associated with hemorrhage and nonoperative failure. Embolization has been reported to reduce splenic bleeding in 50% to 75% of patients with a high-grade injury. However, splenectomy following embolization may be necessary in patients who continue to bleed or develop splenic infarction with abscess formation.MethodsWe present the case of a 15-year-old female who demonstrated a Grade V splenic laceration with moderate hemoperitoneum following an all terrain vehicle crash. Central splenic artery embolization was performed. Because of signs of continued bleeding, laparoscopic splenectomy was performed.ResultsThe patient had a satisfactory postoperative result and returned to normal activity in 2 weeks.ConclusionOur experience suggests that in cases of high-grade splenic injury or angiographic extravasation associated with moderate to large hemoperitoneum, embolization may serve as a bridge to operative therapy and make laparoscopy a safe, less-invasive option for splenectomy.

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