Splenectomy(removal of spleen) at an early age or when the spleen gets enlarged?

Guys whats your opinion on splenectomy?

I don't think splenectomy is advisable in many cases. At one time it was a standard practice in thalassemia intermedia, but that thinking is being revised, since long term studies have showed that splenectomy patients have a higher risk of clotting issues and stroke, as the years pass. Now, it is becoming less used and mostly only in cases of vast enlargement or high hemolysis. Even then, doctors are becoming more reluctant to remove the spleen. Its value in thal major is even more limited. I think if at all possible, the spleen should not be removed but sometimes there is no choice.

hi Sahil ,
i m first voter ....
hahhahha ...
i dont agree with l both options ...
spleen is a key factor , it shouldn't be removed untill it started wo over react/working ...
well i voted for ... When spleen gets enlarged but i would like to go with Andy ..
it should be the last choice ,,, not the first step... you should have  to study and think alot before spleenectomy ...

     Hi! I totally agree with Andy and to nice friend. But if worst comes to worst one should have remove it or risk of having complications of having large spleen..... 

Hi to all,
hw ru?
I'm also agree with u Andy & Lyanne.
my doctor suggested me to remove my spleen, B'coz my hb lvl goes very down in 15 days.
it remains around 7 to 8 mostly.. and sometimes 6.5.
so my doc. wants to remove my spleen
but I dont want. and m not going to remove it..
 

Well I had no choice in removing my spleen, 34yrs ago...My spleen was so enlarged that it was making my life a living hell...

I was like those little ethiopian children ( not being rude or anything ) with an enlarged stomach and so my spleen had to be removed otherwise it would have cost me my life..

hello Smurfette,
dont worry
If we have no choice,what can we do..
Health is must.
take care of ur health

There are 2 schools of thought for spleenectomy:

1. Remove it so that a child who is maintaining his hb at 5-6 goes to abt 8, this is common in intermedias. This enables them to avoid transfusions.

2. The second one which was  discussed in S'pore conference was that there is no point removing it and the side effects are too much in terms of infections in terms of thromorbosis.  So the conclusion was it is  not beneficial removing the spleen even in intermedias, but then again it is finally upto the individual's doctor's prerogative cos clinical assessment is needed.

The argument goes on.

Hi guys
My opinion is of the.... if it needs to go then it should go.
When I was small it was decided that my spleen should be removed to help me last longer with the need of a transfusion. My spleen however was ready to burst so it was taken out when I was 7yrs.
I admit that it is so easy to catch things but it helped me to hang around in this life and for that I am grateful.
We don't always have a choice and with new technology always advancing, you can never quite tell what technique shouldn't be done til after it is done.
Either way Im happy and moving forward without an enlarged spleen.
Take care guys

Though i am not expierenced with splenctomy but my opinion that we have no choice in this matter as there will come a time that you are not able to say no if the enlargement is too much that it can be dangerous.

I think we should work more on preventing this from happening either by transfusions or medications that induces the fetal Hb ( whether natural or chemical )

manal

Hi Guys

I forgot to mention one thing which I was warned about when Prat was a baby. To always watch if there is any blood in the stool or the stool is black cos if the spleen bursts it can be very dangerous.

Also the Dr's had said with an enlarged spleen another danger is if they are in school and fall on their stomach it can burst, therefore we have to be careful. With Prat when we took out the spleen it was only 3 cms's enlarged but I have heard cases when spleen is enlarged upto 5-6 cms or when the kid eats the spleen gets enlarged just after eating, so please keep an eye on the spleen.

As for spleen protecting the body against infections is also not entirely true cos Prat was down with a lot of viral infecftions for last 18 months on a continuous basis. So again this is subjective.

However there is a new topic which Narendra had posted abt spleen which has to be studied as well.

Mine was removed when i was not yet 4 and it was enlarged.... You know, i still hopes it grow back. transfusion went from 6, to 4, to 2 and to 3weeks in the years... 

mine spleen is also removed , i was 15 years old when i had splenectomy , spleen was too large at that moment , after spleenectomy gap , between Tx were increased but its  was for a realy short time period ( less than 1 year ) , now its 7th year of spleenectomy & i need transfusion after 2 weeks  ....

   Hi! mine was removed when i was 16 years old and had to take antibiotic for a year and my transfusion become less frequent until I stopped having at all.........

Hi Lyanne ,

  Hi! mine was removed when i was 16 years old and had to take antibiotic for a year

Are you talking about PenidureLa ( Pencilin ) ??.. that is realy hard injection ... i were on that for a f2 years after that my doc prescripted me Pencilin tablets ... after few months of that Tabs she stopped those tabs ..