Late complications after splenectomy

Splenectomy was one of the most common operations in abdominal surgery. During the past decade, an increased rate of late complications, especially septic and thromboembolic complications occurring after splenectomy, have been reported. The septic complications are well documented. The risk is related to the indication of splenectomy, and is less than 1 % in adults without immunodeficiency. However, these overwhelming postsplenectomy infections are associated with a high mortality rate, about 50 %. The best treatment of these infections is preventive measures which are based on vaccination and education of asplenic patients. The thromboembolic complications are rare, little studied, and specific preventive procedures have not been implemented. (C) 2000 Editions medicales et scientifiques Elsevier SAS.