[Complications following splenectomy]

In a retrospective (n = 570) and prospective study (n = 86) early complications following splenectomy were registered in 127/570 (22.3%) resp. 33/86 (38.4%). The mortality rate was 6.6% resp. 6.9%. Recurrent hemorrhage was the most dangerous, infections (pleuropulmonary, wound healing, subphrenic abscess) were the most frequent complications. Their rate is related only to the underlying disease or operative indication (elective splenectomy with hematological diseases; ruptured spleen; incidental splenectomy).