[Spleen-preserving surgery after blunt abdominal trauma with splenic hilum involvement]. / Cirugía preservadora de órgano tras traumatismo esplénico cerrado con implicación hiliar.

BACKGROUND: Splenic involvement secondary to blunt abdominal trauma is often treated by performing a splenectomy. The severity of the post-splenectomy syndrome is currently well known (blood loss, sepsis), so there is an increasing tendency to preserve the spleen. The case is presented of splenic preservation after blunt abdominal trauma with hilum involvement, emphasising the role of Floseal as a haemostatic agent, as well as the use of resorbable meshes to preserve the spleen. CLINICAL CASE: A 22-year-old woman presenting with a grade IV splenic lesion secondary to a blunt abdominal trauma after a traffic accident. Partial splenic resection was performed and bleeding was controlled with Floseal and use of a reinforcing polyglycolic acid mesh. No postoperative complications occurred, being discharged on day 5. The long-term follow-up has been uneventful. CONCLUSION: The use of haemostatic agents such as thrombin and the gelatine gel (FloSeal) and the use of polyglycolic acid meshes enable spleen-preserving surgery, making it a feasible and reproducible procedure and an alternative to classical splenectomy.

[Obstructive jaundice secondary to hepatic artery aneurysm]. / Ictericia obstructiva secundaria a aneurisma de la arteria hepática.

BACKGROUND: Aneurysm of the hepatic artery is relatively infrequent, representing 16-20% of aneurysms of the visceral arteries. Clinical presentation is nonspecific and may include abdominal pain, upper digestive system hemorrhage, or obstructive jaundice, as in the case presented here. CLINICAL CASE: We present the case of a 47-year-old patient referred to our service due to obstructive jaundice, verifying that the pathology was caused by an aneurysm of >7 cm in diameter in the hepatic artery. Despite elective treatment and intensive collaboration of different surgical specialists, the patient's prognosis was poor. DISCUSSION: These types of aneurysms occur infrequently and with an uncertain prognosis. Therefore, individualized treatment for each case is necessary. CONCLUSIONS: We must carefully select the approach that fits the needs of our patient. The endovascular route is often currently used. However, because of the complexity of the location of the injury, in some cases it is impossible and surgical intervention is necessary with trained hepatobiliary and vascular surgeons.

Ictericia obstructiva secundaria a aneurisma de la arteria hepática / Obstructive jaundice secondary to hepatic artery aneurysm

BACKGROUND: Aneurysm of the hepatic artery is relatively infrequent, representing 16-20% of aneurysms of the visceral arteries. Clinical presentation is nonspecific and may include abdominal pain, upper digestive system hemorrhage, or obstructive jaundice, as in the case presented here. CLINICAL CASE: We present the case of a 47-year-old patient referred to our service due to obstructive jaundice, verifying that the pathology was caused by an aneurysm of >7 cm in diameter in the hepatic artery. Despite elective treatment and intensive collaboration of different surgical specialists, the patient's prognosis was poor. DISCUSSION: These types of aneurysms occur infrequently and with an uncertain prognosis. Therefore, individualized treatment for each case is necessary. CONCLUSIONS: We must carefully select the approach that fits the needs of our patient. The endovascular route is often currently used. However, because of the complexity of the location of the injury, in some cases it is impossible and surgical intervention is necessary with trained hepatobiliary and vascular surgeons.