Document Detail


Elective splenectomy in the elderly patient.
MedLine Citation:
PMID:  557944     Owner:  NLM     Status:  MEDLINE    
Abstract/OtherAbstract:
This report reviews 10 years' experience with elective splenectomy in patients over 55 years of age. Of 55 patients, 25 were over the age of 65. The majority of splenectomies (41) were performed for hematological disorders exclusive of lymphoma, but including ITP, hypersplenism (both primary and secondary), Felty's syndrome and myeloid metaplasia. Sixty-eight per cent of these patients responded to splenectomy with sustained elevation of platelet counts while 70 per cent responded to sustained elevation of leukocyte counts. Sixteen of the hematological patients received a preoperative trial of steroid therapy in an attempt to alleviate leukopenia or thrombocytopenia with a 37.5 per cent (6 of 16) success rate. There was no correlation between the response to preoperative steroid therapy and response to splenectomy. These data correspond favorably to previous published material in the younger aged patients. There was no difference in the postoperative complication rate related to drainage or nondrainage of the splenic bed. However, eight other complications occurred for a morbidity rate of 14.5 per cent in addition to complications related to drainage of the splenic bed (8%). A 9 per cent (5 of 55) mortality rate was related to the patients' pre-existing diseases and appears acceptable in light of hematological response rate and quoted mortality rates for splenectomy over age 65.
Authors:
B G Deckinga; K J Printen
Related Documents :
1445034 - All-trans retinoic acid in the treatment of acute promyelocytic leukaemia.
23362924 - Predators, alternative prey and climate influence annual breeding success of a long-liv...
8210234 - Treatment of guillain-barré syndrome with high-dose immune globulins combined with met...
10515844 - Randomized, double-blind study of stibogluconate plus human granulocyte macrophage colo...
21966304 - Meningococcal purpura fulminans in children. ii: late orthopedic sequelae management.
18251454 - Comparing fibrin glue to sutures for conjunctival closure in pars plana vitrectomy.
Publication Detail:
Type:  Journal Article    
Journal Detail:
Title:  The American surgeon     Volume:  43     ISSN:  0003-1348     ISO Abbreviation:  Am Surg     Publication Date:  1977 Apr 
Date Detail:
Created Date:  1977-05-27     Completed Date:  1977-05-27     Revised Date:  2008-11-21    
Medline Journal Info:
Nlm Unique ID:  0370522     Medline TA:  Am Surg     Country:  UNITED STATES    
Other Details:
Languages:  eng     Pagination:  195-9     Citation Subset:  IM    
Export Citation:
APA/MLA Format     Download EndNote     Download BibTex
MeSH Terms
Descriptor/Qualifier:
Age Factors
Aged
Felty's Syndrome / surgery
Humans
Hypersplenism / surgery
Middle Aged
Primary Myelofibrosis / surgery
Purpura, Thrombocytopenic / surgery
Splenectomy* / mortality
Thrombocytopenia / surgery

From MEDLINE®/PubMed®, a database of the U.S. National Library of Medicine


Previous Document:  Activity of some antileprosy compounds against Mycobacterium intracellulare in vitro.
Next Document:  Phenylketonuria and its variants.