Definition of Spleen removal:

Spleen removal is surgery to remove a diseased or damaged spleen -- the organ that helps the body fight infections.

Description:

In healthy people, the spleen plays a role in immunity against bacterial infections. The spleen is in the uppermost area of the left side of the abdomen, just under the diaphragm. It typically has attachments to the stomach, left kidney, and colon.

If the surgery is planned (elective) rather than an emergency, your doctor will give you vaccines against certain bacteria before removing the spleen. If the operation is an emergency, you should get the vaccines after the operation.

The spleen is removed while you are under general anesthesia. The surgeon makes a surgical cut in the abdomen, finds the spleen, and separates it from the surrounding organs. The surgeon then divides the blood supply to the spleen and removes it from the abdomen. After a careful check for bleeding, the abdominal opening is closed.

Some patients may be able to undergo laparoscopic surgery (also known as "keyhole" or "telescopic" surgery) to remove the spleen. This operation is done with several tiny incisions instead of a single large one. Recovery is typically faster. Some patients, however, are not suited to laparoscopic surgery.

Indications:

Some conditions which may require spleen removal include:

EMERGENCY:

• Spontaneous rupture (extremely rare)
• Trauma to the spleen with uncontrolled bleeding

ELECTIVE:

• Clot (thrombosis) of the spleen blood vessels
• Congenital or acquired hemolytic anemia
• Hereditary spherocytosis
• Idiopathic thrombocytopenia purpura (ITP)
• Lymphoma, leukemia with a markedly enlarged spleen
• Portal hypertension and hypersplenism