Tag Archives: Blunt Force Trauma

General Surgery, Print Release, Trauma

PUBLISHED: Exploratory Laparotomy and Splenectomy for Ruptured Spleen Following Blunt Force Trauma

Exploratory Laparotomy and Splenectomy for Ruptured Spleen Following Blunt Force Trauma
Sebastian K. Chung, MD1; Ashley Suah, MD2; Daven Patel, MD, MPH2; Nadim Michael Hafez, MD2; Brian Williams, MD2
1University of Massachusetts Medical School
2UChicago Medicine

The spleen is highly vascular, is the largest secondary lymphoid organ, and is the most commonly injured organ in the setting of blunt abdominal trauma. Patients may present asymptomatically or with abdominal pain, nausea and vomiting, or signs of hemodynamic instability. Although many splenic injuries caused by blunt abdominal trauma may be managed conservatively, free intra-abdominal fluid with hemodynamic instability warrant surgical management in the form of exploratory laparotomy and splenectomy.

This video report demonstrates the management of a patient who was assaulted, sustaining blunt abdominal trauma and a hemodynamically significant grade IV splenic laceration. An exploratory laparotomy and splenectomy were performed.

General Surgery, Preprint Release, Trauma

PREPRINT RELEASE: Exploratory Laparotomy and Splenectomy for Ruptured Spleen Following Blunt Force Trauma


Exploratory Laparotomy and Splenectomy for Ruptured Spleen Following Blunt Force Trauma
UChicago Medicine

Brian Williams, MD
Associate Professor of Trauma and Acute Care Surgery
Co-Director, Surgical Intensive Care Unit

Ashley Suah, MD
Resident Physician
General Surgery

Daven Patel, MD, MPH
Resident Physician
Emergency Medicine

Nadim Michael Hafez, MD
Assistant Professor of Medicine
Emergency Medicine

The patient in this case was assaulted and sustained blunt force trauma to the abdomen. She was intermittently hypotensive, FAST exam revealed free fluid, and CT scan showed a grade IV splenic laceration. Here, Dr. Williams and Dr. Suah at UChicago Medicine perform an exploratory laparotomy and splenectomy.