Planned ablation of the spleen
Rare blood disorders require splenectomy : Immune thrombocytopenic purpura (destruction of platelets by the splenic cells), spherocytosis (destruction of pathologically fragile red blood cells, by the spleen), sickle cell anemia (destruction by the spleen of red cells changing forms in certain conditions) resistant to medical treatment, or thalassemia (disease of the blood affecting the production of hemoglobin that transports oxygen in the body) requiring multiple transfusions. Rare lesions of the spleen itself also require its removal.
The operation is performed under general anesthesia and by laparotomy , or more rarely, by laparoscopy .
Splenectomy as a surgical emergency
Trauma to the spleen (for example in the event of an accident) which causes internal bleeding which cannot be treated by interventional radiology (FR) is a surgical emergency. Therefore, the injured person should benefit from a splenectomy. The procedure is performed by laparotomy to control the active bleeding.
The immune system has to be strengthened after splenectomy
Splenectomized patients are at risk of severe bacterial infections. Therefore, these patients should be vaccinated against the bacteria Streptococcus pneumoniae and Neisseria meningitidis, in addition to the annual vaccination against the influenza virus (Influenza). This vaccination can be carried out before (if it is carried out in a planned way ) or after (if it is an emergency) splenectomy. In the event of fever, these patients should immediately take antibiotics and seek urgent medical attention.