Safe splenoportography.

The records of 37 patients who had undergone splenoportography, including one group of 12 who were studied before 1976 and a second group of 25 who were studied after 1977, were reviewed. The primary difference was that in the second group, the tract in the spleen was occluded with absorbable gelatin sponge (Gelfoam) plugs as the needle was withdrawn. In addition, there were minor changes in technique, such as changes in the needle puncture angle and entry site. When the new technique was used, there was a significant decrease in the complications traditionally associated with splenoportography. This procedure is safe and deserves to be considered the procedure of choice in patients in whom precise anatomic information is needed preoperatively that cannot be obtained with noninvasive procedures such as ultrasound or magnetic resonance imaging.