title: Splenectomy in a patient with treatment-resistant visceral leishmaniasis: a case report.
abstract: Visceral leishmaniasis (VL), also known as Kala-azar, is a systemic infection caused by a protozoan (Leishmania) and, in its classic form, is a serious illness associated with malnutrition, anemia, hepatosplenomegaly, infectious processes and coagulopathies. The effect of splenectomy in patients with visceral leishmaniasis is not well defined; however, it is known that the spleen is the largest reservoir of infected cells belonging to the reticulo endothelial system. Therefore, the surgical procedure is an option for the debulking of parasites, providing a cure for refractory VL and minimizing the complications of hypersplenism.
authors.affiliation: Departamento de Cirurgia Pediátrica, Santa Casa de Franca, Franca, SP.
authors.forename: Robson Azevedo
authors.initials: RA
authors.lastname: Dutra
authors.forename: Laura Ferreira
authors.initials: LF
authors.lastname: Dutra
authors.forename: Milene de Oliveira
authors.initials: Mde O
authors.lastname: Reis
authors.forename: Raul Coelho
authors.initials: RC
authors.lastname: Lambert
mesh_terms: D002648:Child; D006801:Humans; D006971:Hypersplenism / Q000469:parasitology / Q000601:surgery*; D007898:Leishmaniasis, Visceral / Q000150:complications / Q000601:surgery*; D008297:Male; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D013156:Splenectomy; D013163:Splenomegaly / Q000469:parasitology / Q000601:surgery*