Spleen removal

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Red blood cells, target cells

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You will have many visits with your doctor and several tests before you have surgery. Some of these are:

• A complete physical exam
• Immunizations, such as pneumococcal (Pneumovax), meningococcal vaccine, Haemophilus vaccine, and flu vaccine
• Screening blood tests, special imaging tests, and other tests to make sure you are healthy enough to have surgery
• Transfusions to receive extra red blood cells and platelets, if you need them
• You may need to stay on a liquid diet for a few days before surgery

If you smoke, you should stop smoking several weeks before this surgery. Spleen removal is major surgery, and smoking will increase your risks of problems.

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Always tell your doctor or nurse:

• If you are or might be pregnant
• What drugs, vitamins, and other supplements you are taking, even ones you bought without a prescription

During the week before your surgery:

• You may be asked to stop taking aspirin, ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin), clopidogrel (Plavix), vitamin E, warfarin (Coumadin), and any other drugs like these.
• Ask your doctor which drugs you should still take on the day of your surgery.

On the day of your surgery:

• Do not eat or drink anything after midnight the night before your surgery.
• Take the drugs your doctor told you to take with a small sip of water.
• Your doctor or nurse will tell you when to arrive at the hospital.

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.

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.

Review Date: 01/24/2011
Reviewed By: 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.

A.D.A.M., Inc. is accredited by URAC, also known as the American Accreditation HealthCare Commission (www.urac.org).