[Early postoperative complications in elective splenectomy in hematologic diseases].

This study analyses frequency of complications and mortality after elective splenectomy done for various hematological diseases, dependent on the spleen weight. From 1979 to 1988 year, 236 patients were treated by splenectomy for various haematological disorders, including: autoimmune disorders (90), Hodgkin's disease (34), lymphoproliferative diseases (96) and myeloproliferative diseases (16 patients). In the early postoperative period, complications occurred in 51 (21.61%) patients, 10 of which (4.24%) died. Considering the size of the spleen (more or less than 1500 gr) there was no difference in the early postoperative mortality (p greater than 0.05; 3.30%:5.38%), while postoperative complications occurred significantly more often in patients with massive splenomegaly (p greater than 0.05; 1259%:3548%). The most frequent complications were septical (8.90%), prolonged fever (5.51 x), and postoperative bleeding (2.97%), while cardial, pulmonary and urinary complications occurred seldom, but more often caused patient's death. Defining the appropriate indications for splenectomy, performing suitable preoperative preparations and postoperative care, mortality was diminished from 7.14% in the period, 1979-1983 year, to 2.17% in the period 1984-1988.