[Preparation of patients with hematologic diseases for splenectomy]

Splenectomy in haematological patients is usually performed as an elective surgery. These patients may have thrombocytopenia or coagulation abnormalities which have to be corrected as much as possible before surgery. The increase of number of platelets may be achieved by increase of dose of steroids, with immunoglobulins, with danazol or by transfusion of platelets. The coagulation abnormalities are to be corrected by appropriate treatment. The risk of postsplenectomy sepsis may be reduced by proper preoperative vaccination and/or by antibiotics.