0 a medical operation to remove the spleen (= an organ near the stomach that produces and cleans blood): --
Patients who have undergone a splenectomy are more prone to infections.
It can also be used prior to splenectomy for the prevention of blood loss.
Splenectomy is indicated for moderate to severe cases, but not mild cases.
However, splenectomy is avoided if possible, particularly in children, to avoid the resulting permanent susceptibility to bacterial infections.
Although splenectomy has led to brief responses in patients with mast cell leukemia no firm conclusions as to the efficacy of this treatment are possible.
We have recommended to all doctors that people who have had a splenectomy should be vaccinated with the pneumococcal vaccine.
The knowledge of her previous splenectomy helps in knowing that her fetus may be at risk of severe thrombocytopenia, even if her platelet count remains normal without treatment.
Increased risk of sepsis after splenectomy.
If the autoantibody is cold-reacting, avoidance of exposure to low temperatures is generally the most effective therapy, since corticosteroids and splenectomy are generally ineffective in chronic cold autoimmune haemolysis.
