Prolonged and functional survival with the asplenia syndrome

Asplenia syndrome is a rare congenital complex of splenic agenesis, cardiac malformation, and malposition of the abdominal viscera. Prolonged functional survival is very uncommon, with death usually caused by severe infection or congestive heart failure. A 21-year-old man with typical asplenia syndrome who is currently asymptomatic and in his third year of college is described.