Related Experiment Video
Updated: Oct 19, 2026
Robot-Assisted Laparoscopic Splenectomy In Children: A Case Report with Literature Review
Published on: March 27, 2026
The morbidity and mortality of pediatric splenectomy: does prophylaxis make a difference?
M Jugenburg1, G Haddock, M H Freedman
1Division of General Surgery, The Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, Ontario, Canada.
Insights
Post-splenectomy sepsis infections and mortality have significantly decreased by 47% and 88% respectively, following the implementation of prophylactic measures in children. This study compared outcomes before and after prophylaxis, showing improved patient survival rates.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric Surgery
- Infectious Diseases
- Immunology
Background:
- Splenectomy, the surgical removal of the spleen, increases the risk of postsplenectomy sepsis, a life-threatening infection.
- Encapsulated bacteria pose a significant threat to asplenic individuals, necessitating preventative strategies.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the incidence of postsplenectomy sepsis morbidity and mortality following the introduction of prophylactic measures.
- To compare current outcomes with historical data from a previous 13-year study (1958-1970).
Main Methods:
- A retrospective review of patients who underwent splenectomy at the Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, between 1971 and 1995.
- Infection was defined as the isolation of an encapsulated organism from blood cultures of hospitalized patients.
Main Results:
- Of 264 patients, 10 (3.8%) experienced postsplenectomy infection, predominantly in children aged 0-5 years.
- Infections occurred earlier in immunized (2 years) versus non-immunized (11 days) children post-splenectomy.
- One death from sepsis occurred, with the causative organism unidentified.
Conclusions:
- Prophylaxis has led to a significant reduction in postsplenectomy infection (47%) and mortality (88%).
- Despite a consistent rate of splenectomies, prophylactic measures have markedly improved patient outcomes.
Purpose:
The aim of this study was to analyze the incidence of postsplenectomy sepsis morbidity and mortality after prophylaxis, in comparison with our previous 13-year study (1958 to 1970, inclusive).
Methods:
All patients who had splenectomy at the Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, between 1971 and 1995, inclusive (to give a minimum of 2 years for follow-up), were reviewed for infection and mortality. The criterion for classifying a patient as "infected" was the recovery of an invading encapsulated organism from the blood culture in a patient admitted to the hospital.
Results:
Of the 264 patients studied, 10 had a postsplenectomy infection (3.8%); nine occurred in patients who underwent splenectomy between the ages of 0 and 5 years. Infection took place within 2 +/- 3 years (mean +/- SD) after splenectomy for the immunized patients and 11 +/- 5 days (mean +/- SD) for the nonimmunized children. A significant number of patients were admitted for an apparent respiratory infection, but no serum organisms were isolated. One died of overwhelming sepsis, but the responsible organism was not identified.
Conclusion:
Although there has not been a decrease in the number of splenectomies performed per year, the incidence of infection and mortality has decreased by 47% and 88%, respectively, with prophylaxis.
More Related Videos
Related Concept Videos
01:24Smallpox
01:29Respiratory Syncytial Virus Disease