Use of laparoscopy in pediatric blunt and spleen injury: An unexpectedly common procedure after cessation of bleeding

Background: Recently, several series have reported the use of laparoscopy in pediatric trauma, most commonly for bowel and pancreatic injury within the first 12 or 24 hours. During a multicenter trial at 10 Level 1 pediatric trauma centers, selective use of laparoscopy in children with blunt liver or spleen injury (BLSI) was noted. A secondary analysis was performed to describe the frequency and application of these procedures to pediatric BLSI. Patients and Methods: Prospective data were collected on all children age ≤18 years with BLSI presenting to 1 of 10 pediatric trauma centers. An unplanned secondary analysis of children who underwent laparoscopy was done. Results: Of 1008 children with BLSI, 59 initially underwent a laparotomy, but 11 underwent a laparoscopic procedure during their index admission; 1 of these was 22 hours postlaparotomy and 2 others were laparoscopy-assisted and converted to laparotomy. Median age of patients undergoing a laparoscopic procedure was 11.5 years (interquartile range [IQR]: 5.8-16.4). Laparoscopy was performed at 7 of the 10 centers. Median time to surgery was 42 hours (IQR: 8-96). Most patients had a liver (n = 6) injury; 4 had spleen and 1 had both. One of the laparoscopies was for pancreatic surgery, and 2 were for bowel injury (but converted to open). Conclusions: Laparoscopy was utilized in 16% of children requiring abdominal surgery after BLSI, with a median time of 42 hours postinjury. Uses included diagnostic laparoscopy, drain placement, laparoscopic pancreatectomy, and washout of hematoma.