[Late sequellae of a splenectomy (author's transl)]

This is the case of a patient who underwent splenectomy after traumatic rupture of the spleen. After the operation, while on parenteral feeding, the patient presented with fever and septicemia during approximately 2 months; no origin to this could be found. Two months after the accident the patient died of perforation of a subdiaphragmatic abscess into the stomach and the lung. The authors discuss the possibilities of coming to an earlier diagnosis. They recognize the necessity of a more aggressive attitude to establish the diagnosis.