Jove
Visualize
Contact Us
JoVE
x logofacebook logolinkedin logoyoutube logo
ABOUT JoVE
OverviewLeadershipBlogJoVE Help Center
AUTHORS
Publishing ProcessEditorial BoardScope & PoliciesPeer ReviewFAQSubmit
LIBRARIANS
TestimonialsSubscriptionsAccessResourcesLibrary Advisory BoardFAQ
RESEARCH
JoVE JournalMethods CollectionsJoVE Encyclopedia of ExperimentsArchive
EDUCATION
JoVE CoreJoVE BusinessJoVE Science EducationJoVE Lab ManualFaculty Resource CenterFaculty Site
Terms & Conditions of Use
Privacy Policy
Policies

Related Experiment Videos

Severe late postsplenectomy infection.

G L Cullingford1, D N Watkins, A D Watts

  • 1Department of Surgery, University of Western Australia, Nedlands.

The British Journal of Surgery
|June 1, 1991
PubMed
Summary
This summary is machine-generated.

Related Concept Videos

You might also read

Related Articles

Articles linked to this work by shared authors, journal, and citation graph.

Sort by
Same author

A compartmentalized phosphoinositide signaling axis at cilia is regulated by INPP5E to maintain cilia and promote Sonic Hedgehog medulloblastoma.

Oncogene·2017
Same author

The role of canonical and non-canonical Hedgehog signaling in tumor progression in a mouse model of small cell lung cancer.

Oncogene·2017
Same author

Blockade of the IL-6 trans-signalling/STAT3 axis suppresses cachexia in Kras-induced lung adenocarcinoma.

Oncogene·2016
Same author

Mitochondrial DNA plasticity is an essential inducer of tumorigenesis.

Cell death discovery·2016
Same author

Loss of a single Hic1 allele accelerates polyp formation in Apc(Δ716) mice.

Oncogene·2011
Same author

A potential tumor suppressor role for Hic1 in breast cancer through transcriptional repression of ephrin-A1.

Oncogene·2010

Patients undergoing splenectomy face a significantly increased risk of severe late infections, particularly septicaemia, even years after the procedure. This highlights the ongoing need for vigilance and preventative strategies post-splenectomy.

Area of Science:

  • Surgical Outcomes
  • Infectious Diseases
  • Public Health

Background:

  • Splenectomy, the surgical removal of the spleen, is performed for various medical reasons, including trauma and hematologic disorders.
  • The spleen plays a crucial role in the immune system, particularly in defending against encapsulated bacteria.
  • Post-splenectomy infection remains a significant concern for affected patients.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To determine the incidence and mortality rates of severe late postsplenectomy infections.
  • To assess the long-term risks of infection following splenectomy, both for general indications and specifically after trauma.
  • To evaluate the temporal pattern of infection development after splenectomy.

Main Methods:

  • Retrospective cohort study analyzing splenectomy cases in Western Australia from 1971 to 1983.

Related Experiment Videos

  • Inclusion of 1490 patients with a total of 7825 person-years of follow-up.
  • Calculation of incidence and mortality rates for severe late and overwhelming postsplenectomy infections.
  • Main Results:

    • Overall incidence of severe late postsplenectomy infection was 0.42 per 100 person-years, with a mortality rate of 0.08.
    • Patients undergoing splenectomy have a 12.6-fold increased risk of late septicaemia compared to the general population.
    • 42% of severe infections occurred more than 5 years post-splenectomy, indicating a prolonged risk period.

    Conclusions:

    • Splenectomy significantly elevates the risk of severe late infections, including septicaemia, meningitis, and pneumonia.
    • The risk of infection persists for many years after splenectomy, with a notable proportion of cases occurring beyond the 5-year mark.
    • The low incidence of these severe infections complicates the statistical evaluation of preventative measures like antibiotics, vaccinations, and splenic repair.