Cost of Splenectomy Worldwide

When a person has a diseased or damaged spleen (due to trauma, disease, etc.) that is causing harm to their body rather than being protective, it may be necessary to remove the spleen. A person can develop anemia as a result of the spleen destroying healthy red blood cells, develop low platelet counts from the same cause, and may develop frequent infections as a result of the spleen destroying their blood cells.

Persistent pain or fullness in the upper left area of your abdomen; unexplained fatigue; frequent infections; easy bruising or bleeding; symptoms of anemia (low level of red blood cells) or low platelet counts.

Before surgery, patients undergo a thorough medical examination, blood tests, diagnostic imaging (including ultrasound or CT scan), and an assessment for anaesthesia. In many instances, they are also recommended the necessary immunisations to reduce the risk of developing a post-splenectomy infection.

The two methods used to remove the spleen are laparoscopic (minimally invasive) and traditional or open splenectomy.

• The laparoscopic method utilises very small incisions and a specialised instrument with a video camera to visualise the surgical field.
• There is a larger incision used in the open surgery technique, which is typically used when patients have sustained trauma to the spleen or if the spleen is very large.

The choice of splenectomy type is based on the patient's medical history, spleen size, and the surgeon's experience with each approach.

Depending on the complexity of the patient's case and the surgical method used, the average time required to perform a splenectomy ranges from 1 to 3 hours. The laparoscopic technique typically will take less time to perform and patients generally recover faster with this approach compared to the traditional/open splenectomy.

• Excessive bleeding during or after surgery
• Infection
• Injury to nearby organs
• Blood clots
• Anesthesia-related risks
• Overwhelming Post-Splenectomy Infection (OPSI)

• Improved blood counts
• Relief from symptoms
• Prevention of complications
• Better disease control
• Enhanced quality of life

Recovery time varies with the surgical technique employed. Recovery time for laparoscopic splenectomy is generally between two and four weeks, but recovery following open-splenic surgery may take four to six weeks. Hospital length of stay following these procedures is typically 2-7 days.