Search results
Results From The WOW.Com Content Network
The risk of OPSI is 0.23–0.42 percent per year, with a lifetime risk of 5 percent. [7] Most infections occur in the first few years following splenectomy, but the risk of OPSI is lifelong. [3] [15] The risk is greatest for children and elderly (70+ years old), but it can happen at any age.
Therefore, removal of the spleen runs the risk of overwhelming post-splenectomy infection, a medical emergency and rapidly fatal disease caused by the inability of the body's immune system to properly fight infection following splenectomy or asplenia.
Asplenia is a form of immunodeficiency, increasing the risk of sepsis from polysaccharide encapsulated bacteria, [14] and can result in overwhelming post splenectomy infection (OPSI), often fatal within a few hours. In particular, patients are at risk from Streptococcus pneumoniae, Haemophilus influenzae, and meningococcus. [14]
The spleen is an important immunological organ that acts as a filter for red blood cells, triggers phagocytosis of invaders, and mounts an immunological response when necessary. [2] Lack of a spleen, called asplenia, can occur by autosplenectomy or the surgical counterpart, splenectomy. Asplenia can increase susceptibility to infection. [3]
Splenic infarction is a condition in which blood flow supply to the spleen is compromised, [1] leading to partial or complete infarction (tissue death due to oxygen shortage) in the organ. [2] Splenic infarction occurs when the splenic artery or one of its branches are occluded, for example by a blood clot .
Subphrenic abscess is a disease characterized by an accumulation of infected fluid between the diaphragm, liver, and spleen. [2] This abscess develops after surgical operations like splenectomy. Presents with cough, increased respiratory rate with shallow respiration, diminished or absent breath sounds, hiccups, dullness in percussion ...
Get AOL Mail for FREE! Manage your email like never before with travel, photo & document views. Personalize your inbox with themes & tabs. You've Got Mail!
However, splenectomy is generally considered palliative and is not universally recommended in WAS because it can increase the risk of life-threatening infections. [25] [13] Post-splenectomy patients will require lifelong antibiotic prophyllaxis to prevent infections.