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Background/purpose: Following publication of American Pediatric Surgical Association (APSA) hospital benchmarks for the operative management of blunt splenic trauma in specialized centers, it was found that most hospitals exceeded these benchmarks. We sought to determine if benchmarks were being met a decade later and to identify factors associated with splenectomy in injured children., Methods: Rates of splenic procedures were calculated for children≤19 with a blunt splenic injury (ICD-9 865) using the 2010-2011 National Trauma Data Bank. Multivariable analysis was performed to determine independent predictors of splenectomy., Results: Of 8597 children, 24.3% received care at pediatric trauma centers (PTC), 34.6% at adult trauma centers (ATC), and the remaining 41.2% at other centers (OTC). The overall operative rate was 9.2% (3.9% if age≤14, 6.7% if ≤17). Operative rates were higher in children treated at ATC and OTC when compared to PTC. On multivariable analysis, age>14, coexisting injuries, severity of splenic injury, and care at ATC or OTC were predictive of undergoing operative treatment., Conclusions: Operative rates for splenic injuries meet APSA benchmarks at PTC yet remain high at other centers. Care at an ATC or OTC is associated with greater odds of operative management after adjustment for age and injury severity., (Copyright © 2015 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Background/purpose: Expert guidelines recommend performing synchronous splenectomy in patients with mild hereditary spherocytosis (HS) and symptoms of gallstone disease. This recommendation has not been widely explored in the literature. The aim of this study is to determine if our data support expert opinion and if different practice patterns should exist., Methods: This is an IRB-approved retrospective study. All HS patients under 18 years of age who underwent cholecystectomy for symptomatic gallstones at a single institution between 1981 and 2009 were identified. Patients who underwent cholecystectomy without concurrent splenectomy were reviewed retrospectively for future need for splenectomy and evidence of recurrent gallstone disease., Results: Of the 32 patients identified, 27 underwent synchronous splenectomy. The remaining 5 patients underwent cholecystectomy without splenectomy and had a mean age of 9.4 years. One of the 5 patients eventually required splenectomy for left upper quadrant pain. None of the remaining 4 required hospitalization for symptoms related to hemolysis or hepatobiliary disease. Median follow-up is 15.6 years., Conclusion: The need for splenectomy in patients with mild HS and symptomatic cholelithiasis should be assessed on a case by case basis. Our recommendation is to not perform synchronous splenectomy in conjunction with cholecystectomy for these patients if no indication for splenectomy exists., (Copyright © 2014 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Abstract: Wandering spleen is a rare clinical entity characterized by spleen hypermobility due to lack or weakness of one or more splenic ligaments. We report two patients with the diagnosis of wandering spleen with portal and mesenteric varices. A 16year-old girl presented with abdominal pain, an abdominal mass and pancytopenia. A 12year-old girl presented with an abdominal mass only. Imaging studies revealed both patients had a viable but torsed wandering spleen in association with portal, splenic and mesenteric varices. Both were treated with splenectomy and had resolution of their symptoms. Imaging confirmed complete resolution of all varices at 30month and 11year follow up respectively. These cases represent the first report of a wandering spleen causing portal and mesenteric venous partial obstruction leading to varices; splenectomy resolved these findings post-operatively. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]