title: [Risk of infection following splenectomy].
abstract: The problem of a reduced resistance against infections in splenectomized patients is again described on the occasion of one patient who died within a very short time after the beginning of a severe infection. A retrospective study of 150 patients without spleen showed that 2.6% died in a consequence of a severe infection. From the surviving patients 20% complained of very frequent infections. Immunological laboratory data as well as the reaction against recall antigens were reduced in those patients. So not all patients without spleen bear a high risk with regard to severe infections. In spite of this fact surgeons should try to preserve the spleen even in adults.
mesh_terms: D006801:Humans; D007239:Infections / Q000209:etiology*; D011183:Postoperative Complications / Q000209:etiology*; D012306:Risk; D013156:Splenectomy
vernacular_title: Infektionsrisiko nach Splenektomie.