•  
  •  
 

Article Type

Original Study

Abstract

Objective The objective of this study was to evaluate the role of splenectomy in decreasing the transfusion needs in thalassemia patients. Background Thalassemia can cause significant complications, including iron overload, bone deformities, and cardiovascular illness. In thalassemia, spleen is the most commonly affected organ as seen from the incidence of splenomegaly, due to excessive destruction of abnormal red blood cells, extramedullary hematopoiesis, and transfusional overload. Patients and methods This investigation is designed as a prospective study in which 15 patients with thalassemia major underwent splenectomy under both open and laparoscopic techniques. Patients were selected from the outpatient clinic of the General Surgery Department and were followed up for 1 year after surgery. Results Patients underwent open splenectomy (47%) and laparoscopic splenectomy (53%). The operative complications were bleeding (13%) and injury to the spleen during port insertion (6%). After splenectomy, the patients were followed up for 1 year. All patients showed an improvement in hemoglobin and hematocrit levels. Also, all the blood elements – red blood cells, white blood cells, and platelets – showed a significant increase after splenectomy in all patients. Conclusion Splenectomy definitively reduced blood requirements for thalassemia patients from twice every month preoperatively to less than once per month, with improved hemoglobin levels. These improvements are sustained over a prolonged period of time.

Download

Share

COinS