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What are the indications for a splenectomy?

What are the indications for a splenectomy?

Your doctor may recommend splenectomy if you have one of the following:

  • Ruptured spleen. If your spleen ruptures due to a severe abdominal injury or because of an enlarged spleen (splenomegaly), the result may be life-threatening, internal bleeding.
  • Enlarged spleen.
  • Blood disorder.
  • Cancer.
  • Infection.
  • Cyst or tumor.

What is the most common indication for splenectomy?

Splenomegaly (see the image below) is observed in conditions such as idiopathic (immune) thrombocytopenic purpura (ITP), thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura (TTP), and hereditary spherocytosis. Of these, ITP is the most common indication for elective splenectomy.

Which is the most common early complication following splenectomy?

Infections, particularly pulmonary and abdominal sepsis, constitute the majority of the complications. The mortality rate from postoperative sepsis is substantial. Atelectasis, pancreatitis/fistula, pulmonary embolism and bleeding at the operative site are also relatively common occurrences following splenic removal.

When is splenectomy needed in SCA?

Necessary splenectomy is done for a variety of reasons including acute splenic sequestration crisis, hypersplenism, massive splenic infarction and splenic abscess [3]. Splenic complications of SCD are associated with an increased morbidity and sometimes it may lead to mortality.

Can you live a long life without a spleen?

You can live without a spleen. But because the spleen plays a crucial role in the body’s ability to fight off bacteria, living without the organ makes you more likely to develop infections, especially dangerous ones such as Streptococcus pneumoniae, Neisseria meningitidis, and Haemophilus influenzae.

What are the long term effects of a splenectomy?

As a result, splenectomy leads to a life-long increased risk of life-threatening septicemia or meningitis (OPSI), with a high mortality rate (>50%). We identified 4 cases of S pneumoniae infection; 2 occurred more than 10 years after splenectomy.

How do you prepare for a splenectomy?

Before your splenectomy procedure, your doctor may do the following:

  1. Physical exam.
  2. Blood and urine tests.
  3. Review of your current medications.
  4. ECG.
  5. Other tests to evaluate the cause of the spleen enlargement.
  6. Studies to determine rate of destruction of red blood cells and/or platelets.

Is splenectomy a disability?

Under Diagnostic Code 7706, a splenectomy warrants a 20 percent disability rating. This diagnostic code also provides the instruction to rate complications such as systemic infections with encapsulated bacteria separately.

Why splenectomy is done?

The spleen is the fist-sized organ that helps fight infection in the body by filtering the blood and keeping blood flowing to the liver. When the spleen has to be removed — because of cancer or other diseases — a surgeon performs a splenectomy.

What is elective splenectomy?

Elective splenectomy in adults is often performed after failure of conservative treatment in patients with hematologic, neoplastic, or autoimmune disorders. The indication to perform a splenectomy should be discussed in an interdisciplinary team and the surgeon should not make the decision on his own.

Does not having a spleen shorten your life?

Due to injury or necessary surgery (splenectomy), some people are lacking a spleen, the organ that filters the bloodstream and helps the body fight infection. You do not need your spleen to live a normal, healthy life.