Splenic artery ligation--an adjunct to splenorraphy in children. Case reports.

Three patients in whom blunt splenic trauma involving the hilum threatened the success of splenic preservation were treated by main splenic artery ligation as an adjunct to other techniques. Definition of the traumatic lesion required full splenic mobilization, which in 1 case resulted in extension of the trauma. In all patients a viable, in situ spleen was retained and no complications attributable to the abdominal surgery occurred.