Splenic Abscess: Characterizing Management and Outcomes for a Rare Disease

Recent case series have reported successful nonoperative management (NOM) using interventional radiology-guided (IR) drainage; however, the incidence and outcomes of failed NOM have not been well described.1-3 This study aims to characterize outcomes of operative and NOM for splenic abscess patients while also describing the characteristics of those who fail NOM. [...]the third treatment group (failed NOM) underwent drainage with a nonoperative intent to treat, but ultimately required an unplanned splenectomy. Nearly all patients in the failed NOM group were readmitted to the hospital and had considerable hospitalization duration, with four patients readmitted multiple times. Because of the high morbidity among failed NOM patients, it is important to identify the factors that could possibly relate to failed NOM.