[Hematologic and surgical problems connected with splenectomy in elderly patients].

The authors carried out a clinical analysis of problems connected with splenectomy in elderly patients treated surgically at the Institute of Haematology in the years 1965-1972. Out of 24 patients aged above 60 years 12 were analysed clinically (8 females and 4 males). Splenectomy was done in these patients from haematological indications (haemolytic anaemia, thrombocytopenia, pancytopenia). In all these cases indications to splenectomy, the course of operation and postoperative period as well as late therapeutic results were assessed. The analysis of these elderly patients showed that the criteria of indications for splenectomy were the same as in other age groups. The choice of surgical method depended in these cases on the clinical and haematological findings, a lack of permanent improvement after conservative treatment, contraindications to immunosuppressive treatment and results of isotope investigations (particularly the values of the spleen-liver index). In most splenectomized patients there were no complications during the operation and in the postoperative period. In 2 cases only acute circulatory failure was observed immediately after the operation. Evaluation of late results showed that the effects of the operation were similar to those in other age groups.