Splenectomy for hematological disorders in the Eastern Province of Saudi Arabia.

Splenomegaly is a common clinical disorder in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. Its aetiology is variable and includes portal hypertension due to schistosomal periportal hepatic fibrosis, haemoglobinopathies and lymphoproliferative disorders. At King Fahd Hospital of the University, Al-Khobar in the Eastern Province of the Kingdom, splenectomy is performed frequently for various reasons on patients drawn from all the Provinces. This is a report of 104 patients (age range eight months to 65 years) who underwent splenectomy between 1982 and 1987. We reviewed the indications, operative findings, outcome, and complications of the procedure. Patients with hypersplenism formed the largest group (50%) subjected to splenectomy followed by those suffering from the haemoglobinopathies. Chest infection as the most common complication and it mainly affected patients with portal hypertension. Post-operative septicaemia occurred in four cases within six months from the date of splenectomy.