The ligation of the splenic artery in the treatment of traumatic rupture of the spleen.

Overwhelming sepsis is splenectomized children may be a real threat to life. As an alternative to splenectomy, ligation of the splenic artery in combination which splenorrhaphy was used successfully in two children with splenic trauma involving major segmental vessels. In both patients the postoperative course was normal. Peripheral blood tests, immunological studies, and scintigraphies disclosed no abnormalities of the spleen after the ligation of the splenic artery. Aortographies showed a collateral arterial network in the spleen. Therewith, 11 and 12 months after the operation, respectively, both cases--the first of our series--are presented and discussed.