Postsplenectomy complications.

Postsplenectomy complications were reviewed among 420 patients with simple splenic injury, splenic plus multisystem trauma, elective splenectomy, incidental or accidental splenectomy, and those having splenectomy prior to renal transplantation. Complications not specifically related to splenectomy occurred postoperatively in 52 per cent and 41 per cent, respectively, in the complex trauma and incidental-accidental splenectomy groups. Nonfatal complications specifically related to splenectomy occurred in 15 per cent of patients with multi-organ injury and in 18 per cent of patients with incidental-accidental splenic removal. Morbidity was infrequent when simple splenic trauma prompted splenectomy or in elective splenectomy. Mortality related to splenectomy occurred most often following renal transplantation, but also appeared high when the spleen was removed for multiple trauma or incidental to other surgery. The latter category is at risk for morbidity and mortality when splenectomy is incidental to a planned procedure (e.g., radical gastrectomy) or accidental as when injured by the surgeon. These splenectomies and those planned prior to transplantation may be unnecessary in many instances. The postsplenectomy sepsis syndrome was encountered late only once in this entire series; nonetheless, sound indications for splenectomy must prevail before splenic removal since significant early morbidity and mortality follows splenectomy.