Conservative management of splenic abscesses in children

Abstract

Splenic abscesses are rare in children. The recommended treatment for this entity has been a combination of total splenectomy and appropriate antibiotic therapy. We report on the successful conservative management of two children with splenic abscesses. The patients were a girl with a single splenic abscess and a boy with multiple splenic lesions. Both were managed by parenteral antibiotic therapy followed by oral chemotherapy. Regression of the lesions was documented by repeated abdominal ultrasonographic examinations. Considering the good outcome of these patients and the importance of splenic preservation in children, we propose that management of children with single or multiple splenic abscesses should begin by a course of vigorous antibiotic therapy, reserving more aggressive surgical procedures for those who do not respond to conservative treatment or have clinical deterioration.