How serious is a splenectomy?

How serious is a splenectomy?

Like any operation, spleen removal carries a small risk of complications, including bleeding and infection. Your doctor will talk through these risks with you. You should be given breathing and leg exercises to do at home to reduce your risk of getting a blood clot or a chest infection.

How long can you live after splenectomy?

The median actuarial survival after operation was 51 months. Although the series of patients is small, it seems that splenectomy did not have an adverse effect on life expectancy. The haematological status and the quality of life improved after splenectomy in 17 of 19 patients.

Is removing the spleen life-threatening?

​Your spleen is important for your body’s defence against germs, when your spleen is removed or doesn’t work properly you are at higher risk of infection. This is very important as, although these infections do not happen very often, they can be life-threatening.

Is a splenectomy a major surgery?

Removing your spleen is a major surgery and leaves you with a compromised immune system. For these reasons, it’s only performed when truly necessary. The benefits of a splenectomy are that it can resolve several health issues such as blood diseases, cancer, and infection that could not be treated any other way.

Can you live a normal life without a spleen?

You can live without a spleen. But because the spleen plays a crucial role in the body’s ability to fight off bacteria, living without the organ makes you more likely to develop infections, especially dangerous ones such as Streptococcus pneumoniae, Neisseria meningitidis, and Haemophilus influenzae.

Can you get a spleen transplant?

Spleen transplantation is the transfer of spleen or spleen fragments from one individual to another. It is under research for induction of immunological tolerance for other transplanted organs. Success has been achieved in rodent models.

How many hours does spleen surgery take?

Removing the spleen takes 2 to 4 hours. It is usually done through one (1) or more very small incisions (cuts) in the belly. This makes recovery faster and less painful than for surgery with one (1) big incision. Your child will likely spend 1 or 2 days in the hospital and then go home to rest and finish recovering.

Is splenectomy a disability?

Under Diagnostic Code 7706, a splenectomy warrants a 20 percent disability rating. This diagnostic code also provides the instruction to rate complications such as systemic infections with encapsulated bacteria separately.

Can a removed spleen grow back?

Unlike some other organs, like the liver, the spleen does not grow back (regenerate) after it is removed. Up to 30% of people have a second spleen (called an accessory spleen). These are usually very small, but may grow and function when the main spleen is removed.