Vascular complications after splenectomy for hematologic disorders

Shelley E Crary1, George R Buchanan

  • 1Department of Pediatrics, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center at Dallas, TX 75390, USA. Shelley.crary@utsouthwestern.edu

Blood
|July 29, 2009
PubMed

The most widely recognized long-term risk of splenectomy is overwhelming bacterial infection. More recently, thrombosis has become appreciated as another potential complication of the procedure. Because of these long-term risks, the indications for and timing of splenectomy are debated in the medical community. Accordingly, the adverse effects and benefits of splenectomy for hematologic disorders and other conditions demand further study. This comprehensive review summarizes the existing literature pertaining to vascular complications after splenectomy for hematologic conditions and attempts to define the potential pathophysiologic mechanisms involved. This complex topic encompasses diverse underlying conditions for which splenectomy is performed, diverse thrombotic complications, and multiple pathophysiologic mechanisms.

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