Zerella J T, Martin L W, Lampkin B C
J Pediatr Surg. 1978 Jun;13(3):243-6. doi: 10.1016/s0022-3468(78)80394-7.
Splenectomies were performed in 30 children out of a total of 183 with idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura (ITP). Of these 30, ten splenectomies were performed on an emergency basis. Significant spontaneous gross hematuria, gastrointestinal bleeding or epistaxis appear to represent harbingers of intracranial hemorrhage and constitute indications for emergency splenectomy.
