Factors affecting mortality in patients with splenic injuries

Abstract

AIM: Mortality in splenic injuries can create medico-legal problems. Though many studies exist regarding splenic injuries, there are not a sufficient number investigating the factors in splenic injuries influencing mortality. In this study, we aimed to investigate the factors affecting mortality in splenic injuries.
MATERIALS AND METHODS: All 237 patients with splenic injury between 2005 to 2014 were retrospectively analyzed. The patients were divided into two groups, survivors and non-survivors. Age, gender, mechanism of injury, grade of splenic injury, pulse, respiratory rate, systolic blood pressure, hemoglobin levels, number of transfusions, surgical procedure, ISS, RTS and hospitalization period were recorded. Univariate and multivariate analysis were used to compare survivors and non-survivors.

RESULTS: The average age of the patients was 32 and most (82.7%) were male. Mortality was observed in 18 patients (7.6%). Mortality was found significantly lower in patients who had isolated splenic injury (p=0.048). In univariate analyses, decreased RTS (p<0.001), increased number of blood transfusion (p<0.001), decreased hemoglobin level (p=0, 025) and increased ISS (p<0.001) were found significant in non-survivors. In multivariate analysis; number of trans- fusions, ISS and RTS were found as independent risk factors for mortality.

CONCLUSIONS: We found high number of transfusions, high ISS and low RTS as independent risk factors for mortali- ty in patients with splenic injury.