Letoquart J P, La Gamma A, Kunin N, Chaperon J
Service de Chirurgie Générale A, CHR de Rennes, Hôpital Sud, Rennes.
J Chir (Paris). 1995 Jun-Jul;132(6-7):295-8.
A retrospective series of 38 splenectomies performed in patients over 70 for haematology diseases is reported. There were no post-operative deaths and 8 patients (21%) had complications which resolved favourably. Paradoxically, mortality and morbidity were lower in elderly patients although the difference was not statistically significant. No factor predictive of post-operative outcome was found. It was concluded that age is not a contraindication although the clinical situation is a predominant factor in patient selection.
