 | This article needs additional citations for verification. (August 2016) |
| Splenectomy | |
|---|---|
 Surgically removed spleen of a child with thalassemia. It is about 15 times larger than normal. | |
| ICD-9-CM | 41.43, 41.5 |
| MeSH | D013156 |
| OPS-301 code | 5-413 |
A splenectomy is the surgical procedure that partially or completely removes the spleen. The spleen is an important organ in regard to immunological function due to its ability to efficiently destroy encapsulated bacteria. Therefore, removal of the spleen runs the risk of overwhelming post-splenectomy infection, a medical emergency and rapidly fatal disease caused by the inability of the body's immune system to properly fight infection following splenectomy or asplenia.[1]
Common indications for splenectomy include trauma, tumors, splenomegaly or for hematological disease such as sickle cell anemia or thalassemia.[2]
- ^ Taniguchi, Leandro Utino; Correia, Mário Diego Teles; Zampieri, Fernando Godinho (December 2014). "Overwhelming post-splenectomy infection: narrative review of the literature". Surgical Infections. 15 (6): 686–693. doi:10.1089/sur.2013.051. ISSN 1557-8674. PMID 25318011.
- ^ Weledji, Elroy P. (2014). "Benefits and risks of splenectomy". International Journal of Surgery (London, England). 12 (2): 113–119. doi:10.1016/j.ijsu.2013.11.017. ISSN 1743-9159. PMID 24316283.