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Spleen removal - Recovery

Alternative Names

Splenectomy; Laparoscopic splenectomy; Spleen removal - laparoscopic

After the Procedure:

You or your child will spend less than a week in the hospital. Your hospital stay may be only 1 or 2 days after a laparoscopic splenectomy. You should heal in 4 to 6 weeks.

Outlook (Prognosis):

The outcome of this surgery varies depending on what disease or injuries you have. People who do not have other severe injuries or medical problems usually recover after this surgery.

After your spleen is removed, you are more likely to develop infections. Talk with your doctor about getting needed vaccinations. Children especially may need to take antibiotic drugs to prevent infections. Most adults do not need antibiotics long-term.

Everyone who has had a splenectomy will need to get a flu vaccine every year.

Red blood cells, target cells

Spleen removal - series

Reviewed last on: 1/24/2011
Shabir Bhimji, MD, PhD, Specializing in General Surgery, Cardiothoracic and Vascular Surgery, Midland, TX. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network. Also reviewed by David Zieve, MD, MHA, Medical Director, A.D.A.M., Inc.

References

Beauchamp RD, Holzman MD, Fabian TC, Weinberg JA. The spleen. In: Townsend CM, Beauchamp RD, Evers BM, Mattox KL, eds. Sabiston Textbook of Surgery. 18th ed. Philadelphia, Pa: Saunders Elsevier; 2008:chap 56.

Camitta BM. Hyposplenism, splenic trauma, and splenectomy. In: Kliegman RM, Behrman RE, Jenson HB, Stanton BF, eds. Nelson Textbook of Pediatrics. 18th ed. Philadelphia, Pa: Saunders Elsevier; 2007:chap 487.

Cadili A, de Gara C. Complications of splenectomy. Am J Med. 2008;121(5):371-375.

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