Spleen removal

Injury	Disease	Nutrition	Poison

Symptoms	Surgery	Test	Special Topic

Red blood cells, target cells

Spleen removal - series

Overview

Recovery

Risks

Spleen removal

Alternative Names:

Splenectomy
Expectations after surgery:

The outcome varies with the underlying disease or the extent of other injuries. Complete recovery from the surgery itself should be anticipated, in the absence of other severe injuries or medical problems.

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All patients undergoing splenectomy should be vaccinated against pneumococcal pneumonia. Consult your physician regarding an appropriate vaccination regimen. In addition, some physicians recommend vaccinations against other types of bacteria, and, especially in the case of children, long-term treatment with antibiotic drugs to prevent post-splenectomy sepsis. Long-term antibiotic use is usually not necessary in adults.

However, any patients who have had a splenectomy should seek medical attention for even seemingly minor illnesses, such as sinus infections or sore throats, as the health care provider may wish to prescribe antibiotics.

Convalescence:

Recovery from the operation should be rapid. Hospitalization is usually less than a week (1-2 days for laparoscopic splenectomy), and complete healing should occur within 4 to 6 weeks.