Surgical disease of the spleen

Abstract

It was clear and well accepted that splenectomy results in loss of significant defence functions of the body predisposing the patient to life-threatening sepsis. The evidence led to the condition that the use of total splenectomy greatly curtailed and the splenic preservation, splenorrhaphy, partial splenectomy, or splenic artery ligation is a more appropriate procedure in many circumstances. In recent years, conservative management has become the treatment of choice even for large splenic injuries providing that the surgical team, blood bank, intensive care unit, and radiologic investigative modalities are available for 24 hours a day. (Turk Arch Ped 2010; 45 Suppl: 53-4)