Splenic Artery Ligation for Iatrogenic Injury in Esophagectomy Operations

Abstract

Studies have shown that splenic artery ligation without splenectomy can successfully control hemorrhage and preserve the spleen in splenic trauma. The short gastric arteries and left gastroepiploic arteries may be the most important part of the collateral blood supply to the spleen. Moreover, that the human spleen can also survive even if most of the short gastric arteries have been ligated along with the splenic artery has also been proven. Revascularization of the spleen by collateral vessels from the superior mesenteric, pancreatic, and left inferior phrenic arteries has been demonstrated by celiac angiography. Thus, splenic artery ligation could be also an alternative to splenectomy for iatrogenic spleen injury in esophagectomy operations.