Laparoscopically guided blood salvage and autotransfusion in splenic trauma: a case report.

Salvage of intraperitoneal blood with autotransfusion is a well-accepted practice. Laparoscopic examination is gaining popularity and holds diagnostic promise for the evaluation of trauma patients. We describe herein the successful combination of these techniques in a patient who sustained blunt abdominal trauma, facilitating splenic salvage, autotransfusion, and avoidance of laparotomy.