Makindo Medical Notes"One small step for man, one large step for Makindo" |
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Related Subjects: | Sideroblastic Anaemia | Splenectomy
| Cause | Clinical Indications | Post-Operative Guidance |
|---|---|---|
| ๐ Trauma | Rupture from blunt trauma (e.g., RTC, sports). | Haemorrhage monitoring, vaccines, infection risk counselling. |
| ๐งฌ Haematological Disorders | Hereditary spherocytosis, autoimmune haemolytic anaemia, ITP, thalassaemia, sickle cell (sequestration crisis). | Vaccines, prophylactic antibiotics, lifelong infection awareness. |
| ๐ฆ Infective | Splenic abscess, granulomatous disease (TB, sarcoid). | Vaccines, antibiotic prophylaxis, monitor recurrence. |
| ๐๏ธ Splenic Neoplasms | Lymphoma, splenic angiosarcoma, metastases. | Oncology follow-up, infection prevention, adjunctive chemo/radiotherapy if indicated. |
| ๐ซ Portal Hypertension | Hypersplenism with cytopenias. | Treat underlying cause, hepatology follow-up, infection prevention. |
| ๐ฏ Immune Thrombocytopenic Purpura (ITP) | Refractory ITP unresponsive to steroids/IVIg. | Monitor platelets, vaccines, thrombosis risk education. |
| โ ๏ธ Hypersplenism | Pancytopenia secondary to splenic overactivity. | Regular blood count monitoring, post-splenectomy prophylaxis. |
| ๐ซง Cysts & Benign Tumours | Large/symptomatic cysts or benign lesions with rupture risk. | Follow-up imaging, standard infection prophylaxis. |
| ๐ฉธ Sickle Cell Disease | Sequestration crisis, functional asplenia (auto-infarction). | Vaccines, prophylaxis, consider hydroxyurea, infection counselling. |
Patients without a spleen are at high risk of overwhelming infection, especially with encapsulated bacteria (Strep pneumoniae, Neisseria meningitidis, Haemophilus influenzae). Mortality can occur within hours โ prevention is vital.