Major surgery in leukemic patients

During the last ten years, 15 major operations have been performed in our ward on 14 patients with leukemia. Nine had an uncomplicated postoperative course, two succumbed to overwhelming postoperative infections, another two died from cardiovascular complications and one from carcinomatous spread. There were no wound-related complications and no granulocyte or platelet transfusions were necessary. It is concluded that major surgery should not be avoided in patients solely because of the presence of a leukemic process.