The patient has been stabbed from the back, the knife penetrating the lower chest and then passing through the diaphgragm into the abdomen. The lung, spleen, stomach and splenic flexure of colon would be at risk. Development of signs suggesting significant hypovolaemia or peritonitis would indicate the need for laparotomy. In this case, the knife entered the posterior aspect of the spleen with serious haemorrhage. Bleeding was controlled by the use of sealant glue placed into the splenic laceration.