Management of patients undergoing splenectomy in an Irish teaching hospital: impact of guidelines

Overwhelming post-splenectomy infection (OPSI) has a 50-70% mortality rate and carries a lifetime risk for the asplenic patient. Specific British guidelines have been developed to reduce its incidence.

To determine whether British guidelines were being followed in our own institution and what impact they had on overwhelming post-splenectomy infection.

Retrospective chart review of 100 splenectomies performed by Department of Surgery, Beaumont Hospital from January 1990 to January 2000.

Twenty per cent of patients were discharged without any recommended vaccinations. Prophylactic antibiotics were not prescribed in 53% of patients. Just 12% of charts document a verbal explanation of the complications and management of asplenia to the patient. Overall septic mortality was 12%, of whom 8% died in hospital and 4% after discharge.

Management of the asplenic patient has improved but is far from complete. A central register of asplenic patients and national asplenic guidelines should be established in Ireland to ensure optimum patient care.