Risks and benefits of splenectomy in myelofibrosis: an analysis of 39 cases

From 1980 to 1993, 39 splenectomies were performed in the Department of Visceral Surgery of Saint-Louis Hospital, in patients referred for myelofibrosis associated with myeloid splenomegaly. The short term morbidity was considerable: 33 serious haemorrhagic, infectious or thrombotic complications including 5 fatal accidents were observed in 18 patients. Severe thrombotic or infectious complications leading to 6 further deaths occurred in 8 patients over the two years following splenectomy, while six cases of acute leukaemia appeared between 6 months and 3 years after splenectomy. In 40% of cases with regular follow-up, the operation did not provide any haematological improvement and all these patients died. Only patients with minimally progressive or stable myelofibrosis and residual marrow activity in isotope studies showed an amelioration of general status with relief of pain and reduction of transfusional requirements. The indication for splenectomy should therefore probably be limited to such cases.