"How Safe is Splenectomy?"

The increased risk of sepsis in patients following splenectomy has been well documented. Fear of overwhelming post-splenectomy sepsis (OPSI) has resulted in a generalized trend towards splenic salvage among surgeons. However, splenorrhaphy and attempts at splenic salvage may of themselves predispose to significant morbidity, sometimes more serious than increased susceptibility to infection associated with splenectomy. This study aims to assess the risk of splenectomy and subsequent asplenia. We reviewed 246 patients who underwent splenectomy over a 16 year period. Indications for splenectomy were considered under the following headings: haematological (N = 116), trauma (N = 69), visceral carcinoma (N = 28), incidental (N = 13) and miscellaneous (N = 20). There were 28 deaths in the series, primarily among those in the intra-abdominal carcinoma (13) and multiple trauma (13) groups. Two deaths were recorded among patients undergoing elective splenectomy for benign disease. Thrombo-embolic complications were recorded in nine patients; respiratory tract infection in 36 patients and intra-abdominal abscess in two patients. Two cases of post-splenectomy pneumococcal septicaemia were documented, neither of which was fatal. While not an entirely benign procedure, splenectomy can be performed relatively safely, especially when performed for benign disease in an adult population.