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Where clinically appropriate, attempts are now often made to perform either surgical subtotal (partial) splenectomy, [18] or partial splenic embolization. [19] In particular, whilst vaccination and antibiotics provide good protection against the risks of asplenia, this is not always available in poorer countries. [20]
Acquired asplenia occurs for several reasons: . Following splenectomy due to splenic rupture from trauma or because of tumor; After splenectomy with the goal of interfering with splenic function, as a treatment for diseases (e.g. idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura, thalassemia, spherocytosis), in which the spleen's usual activity exacerbates the disease
An overwhelming post-splenectomy infection (OPSI) is a rare but rapidly fatal infection occurring in individuals following removal (or permanent dysfunction) of the spleen. The infections are typically characterized by either meningitis or sepsis , and are caused by encapsulated organisms including Streptococcus pneumoniae . [ 3 ]
Embolization, blocking off of the hemorrhaging vessels, is a newer and less invasive treatment. [3] When surgery is needed, the spleen can be surgically repaired in a few cases, but splenectomy is still the primary surgical treatment, and has the highest success rate of all treatments.
Lack of a spleen, called asplenia, can occur by autosplenectomy or the surgical counterpart, splenectomy. Asplenia can increase susceptibility to infection. [3] Autosplenectomy can occur in cases of sickle-cell disease where the misshapen cells block blood flow to the spleen, causing scarring and eventual atrophy of the organ. [2]
Embolization refers to the passage and lodging of an embolus within the bloodstream. It may be of natural origin (pathological), in which sense it is also called embolism, for example a pulmonary embolism; or it may be artificially induced (therapeutic), as a hemostatic treatment for bleeding or as a treatment for some types of cancer by deliberately blocking blood vessels to starve the tumor ...
Splenic infarct seen on CT Healed splenic infarct. Several factors may increase the tendency for clot formation, such as specific infections (such as infectious mononucleosis, [9] [dubious – discuss] [better source needed] cytomegalovirus infection, [10] malaria, [11] or babesiosis [12]), inherited clotting disorders (thrombophilia, such as Factor V Leiden, antiphospholipid syndrome ...
Common causes include asplenia (post-splenectomy) or congenital absence of spleen (right atrial appendage isomerism). Spleens are also removed for therapeutic purposes in conditions like hereditary spherocytosis , trauma to the spleen, and autosplenectomy caused by sickle cell anemia .