Successful treatment of splenic haemorrhages with preservation of the spleen by means of selective catheterisation and embolisation of the splenic artery

splenic artery. - Two patients with splenic bleeding were treated with transcatheter embolisation and selective coiling of the splenic artery. These were first of all a 78-year-old woman who was on anticoagulants for atrial fibrillation and suffered a laceration of the spleen with extravasation of contrast medium and a falling haemoglobin level. The second patient was a 23-Year-old woman who suffered laceration of the spleen as the result of a traffic accident. Embolisation made it possible to avoid surgical treatment and preserve the spleen in both patients. Selective embolisation of the splenic artery is a useful adjunct to the non-operative management of patients with traumatic splenic injury. However, the proper patient selection still needs to be established.