When is splenectomy needed for thalassemia?
Splenectomy should be considered when: Annual blood requirements exceed 1.5 times those of splenectomised patients, provided that they are on the same transfusion scheme and have no other reasons for increased consumption.
Does thalassemia minor affect the spleen?
Enlarged spleen. Thalassemia is often accompanied by the destruction of a large number of red blood cells. This causes your spleen to enlarge and work harder than normal. An enlarged spleen can make anemia worse, and it can reduce the life of transfused red blood cells.
What is the role of spleen in thalassemia?
In its filtering capacity, the spleen is able to remove large foreign particles from the blood. In addition, when red blood cells come to the end of their lifecycle (after about 30-60 days in thalassemia), the spleen breaks the cells down, removing the globin and iron from these cells so that they can be reused.
Why splenectomy is done?
It helps fight infection and filters unneeded material, such as old or damaged blood cells, from your blood. The most common reason for splenectomy is to treat a ruptured spleen, which is often caused by an abdominal injury.
Why a patient would need a splenectomy after a diagnosis of ITP?
Why remove the spleen? In people with ITP the immune system treats platelets as foreign and destroys them. The spleen is responsible for removing these damaged platelets and therefore removal of the spleen can help to keep more platelets circulating in the body.
Why do platelets increase after splenectomy?
The early, highly significant thrombocytosis, following both splenectomy and general surgery, is caused by increased production of platelets due to the surgical trauma. This is caused by a direct action on bone marrow MK by transforming 2N-8N MK into higher ploidy classes.
What vaccines do you need after a splenectomy?
Pneumococcal, meningococcal, and Haemophilus influenzae (Hib) vaccinations are indicated for patients after splenectomy.
Is splenectomy used to treat thalassemia?
Treating Thalassemia. SPLENECTOMY. The use of splenectomy in thalassemia has declined in recent years. This is partly due to a decreased prevalence of hypersplenism in adequately transfused patients. There is also an increased appreciation of the adverse effects of splenectomy on blood coagulation.
What are the indications for splenectomy in the treatment of hypersplenism?
In general, splenectomy should be avoided unless absolutely indicated. Splenectomy is indicated in the transfusion-dependent patient when hypersplenism increases blood transfusion requirement and prevents adequate control of body iron with chelation therapy.
What diseases can be treated with a splenectomy?
Blood disorder. Blood disorders that may be treated with splenectomy include idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura, polycythemia vera and thalassemia. But splenectomy is typically performed only after other treatments have failed to reduce the symptoms of these disorders. Cancer.
What are the possible complications of blood transfusion for thalassemia?
The other complications of blood transfusion include the risk of mismatched transfusion, allergic reactions, and febrile, non-hemolytic reactions. The use of splenectomy in thalassemia has declined in recent years. This is partly due to a decreased prevalence of hypersplenism in adequately transfused patients.