Sutureless hemisplenectomy

Abstract

Splenic salvage following blunt injury can fail when parenchymal bleeding is uncontrollable. To define the usefulness of an argon beam coagulator for hemostasis, we used the instrument in a laboratory trial of partial splenic resection. New Zealand white rabbits, weighing 4 to 5 kg, had sharp excision of the lower half of the spleen. No sutures were used to control hemorrhage from the cut splenic surface or the hilar vessels. Hemostasis was achieved with 2 to 4 seconds of electrocoagulation delivered by a beam of argon gas. All animals survived the procedure and were in good health when killed between the fourth and sixth week following the procedure. At necropsy, the spleen was viable in all animals with no abscess or hematoma. Minimal adhesions from the treated splenic surface to the omentum were found. The scar at the cut surface was 1 mm in depth, and the histology of the remainder of the spleen was normal. In this simulated splenic injury model, argon beam coagulation was uniformly successful in achieving hemostasis. Minimal tissue destruction and lack of infection were noted. The argon beam coagulator may be useful in patients with severe splenic injuries and other situations requiring partial splenectomy.