Splenectomy

A splenectomy is a surgical procedure to remove the spleen, an organ located in the upper left part of the abdomen. The spleen plays an important role in helping the body fight infections, filtering and destroying old, damaged red blood cells, and helping the body store platelets and white blood cells. The most common reason for a splenectomy is to treat a ruptured spleen due to trauma, though it may also be done to remove masses or to treat conditions such as Hodgkin’s lymphoma, idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura, metastatic cancer, and various autoimmune diseases. The risks of splenectomy include bleeding, infection, and a decrease in the body’s ability to fight infections. After surgery, the patient must take antibiotics to prevent infection and receive booster vaccinations for certain diseases that the spleen is responsible for protecting against. In some cases, a partial splenectomy may be performed. This procedure can help to reduce the risk of infection and bleeding, while allowing the spleen to maintain some of its functions. Overall, a splenectomy is a major surgical procedure with significant risks and long-term implications, and is usually only recommended for medical conditions for which it is the best treatment.