Splenectomy results from an 18-year single centre experience.

Area of Science:

• Surgical Outcomes
• Infectious Disease Epidemiology
• Patient Prognosis

Background:

• Splenectomy is a critical procedure for trauma and hematological conditions.
• Post-splenectomy care includes immunotherapy and antibiotic prophylaxis.
• Long-term outcomes and infection risks require further investigation.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate long-term outcomes in patients following splenectomy.
• To assess the incidence of overwhelming postsplenectomy infection (OPSI).
• To identify prognostic indicators for splenectomy patients.

Main Methods:

• Retrospective review of 105 splenectomy patients (1991-2011).
• Follow-up data collected for at least five years or until death for 88 patients.
• Multivariate analysis to identify prognostic factors.

Main Results:

• Median survival was 80 months; overall operative morbidity was 21.0% and mortality 8.6%.
• Emergency splenectomy showed higher operative mortality (21.6%) compared to elective (1.5%).
• No OPSI cases were recorded; age was the only significant independent prognostic indicator.

Conclusions:

• No evidence of OPSI was found in this 18-year splenectomy cohort.
• Traumatic splenic rupture requiring emergency splenectomy is associated with significant operative mortality.
• Age is a key prognostic factor in splenectomy patients.