Natural history of splenic vascular abnormalities after blunt injury: A Western Trauma Association multicenter trial.

Background: Following blunt splenic injury (BSI) there is conflicting evidence regarding the natural history and appropriate management of patients with vascular injuries of the spleen such as pseudoaneurysms or blushes. The purpose of this study was to describe the current management and outcomes of patients with PSA or BLUSH. Methods: Data was collected on adult (>=18) patients with BSI and a splenic vascular injury from 17 trauma centers. Demographic, physiologic, radiographic, and injury characteristics were gathered. Management and outcomes were collected. Univariate and multivariable analyses were used to determine factors associated with splenectomy. Results: Two hundred patients with a vascular abnormality on CT scan were enrolled. Of those, 14.5% were managed with early splenectomy. Of the remaining, 59% underwent angiography and embolization (ANGIO) and 26.5% were observed. Of those who underwent ANGIO, 5.9% had a repeat ANGIO and 6.8% had splenectomy. Of those observed, 9.4% had a delayed ANGIO and 7.6% underwent splenectomy. There were no statistically significant differences between those observed and those who underwent ANGIO. There were 111 CT scans with splenic vascular injuries available for review by an expert trauma radiologist. The concordance between the original classification of the type of vascular abnormality and the expert radiologist's interpretation was 56.3%. Based on expert review the presence of an actively bleeding vascular injury was associated with a 40.9% risk of splenectomy. This was significantly higher than those with a non-bleeding vascular injury. Conclusions: In this series, the vast majority of patients are managed with ANGIO and usually embolization while splenectomy remains a rare event. However, patients with a bleeding vascular injury of the spleen are at high risk of non-operative failure no matter the strategy used for management. This group may warrant closer observation or an alternative management strategy. Level of Evidence: Prognostic Level III (C) 2017 Lippincott Williams & Wilkins, Inc.

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