Spleen removal

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Red blood cells, target cells

Splenectomy; Laparoscopic splenectomy; Spleen removal - laparoscopic

Risks for any surgery are:

• Blood clots in the legs that may travel to the lungs
• Breathing problems
• Infection, including in the surgical wound, lungs (pneumonia), bladder, or kidney
• Blood loss
• Heart attack or stroke during surgery
• Reactions to medicines

The risks or problems that may occur during or soon after this surgery are:

• Blood clot in the portal vein (an important vein that carries blood to the liver)
• Collapsed lung
• Hernia at the surgical cut site
• Increased risk for infection after splenectomy (post-splenectomy sepsis or other infections -- children are at higher risk than adults for infection)
• Injury to nearby organs, such as the pancreas, stomach, and colon
• Pus collection under the diaphragm (subdiaphragmatic abscess)

Risks are the same for both open and laparoscopic spleen removal.

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).

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