Complications of splenectomy. Comparative study of elective, urgent and incidental splenectomy

In 160 patients who had undergone elective, urgent or incidental splenectomy, an assessment was made of the possible relationship between the reason for splenectomy and the postoperative course. In patients who had incidental splenectomy, the postoperative complication rate (56.6%), the hospitalization time (20.8 days), and the mortality rate (10%) were higher than among those who had elective or urgent surgery. Our results indicate that splenic injury sustained during abdominal surgery should be treated conservatively, by topical hemostasis or by suturing, in order to avoid complications related to splenectomy.