The spleen is an organ found in virtually all vertebrates. Similar in structure to a large lymph node, it acts primarily as a blood filter.Encyclopedia Entry for Spleen :Spleen removal - child - discharge. Your child's spleen was removed after your child was given general anesthesia (asleep and pain-free). If your child had open surgery, the surgeon made an incision (cut) in your child's belly. If your child had laparoscopic surgery, the surgeon made 3 to 4 small cuts in your child's belly.Most children recover quickly after spleen removal. Recovery from laparoscopic surgery is usually faster than recovery from open surgery. Your child may have some of these symptoms. All of them should slowly go away: Pain around the incisions for a few days. Sore throat from the breathing tube. Sucking on ice chips or gargling (if your child is old enough to do these things) can help soothe the throat. Bruising, skin redness, or pain around the cut, or cuts. Problems taking deep breaths. If your child's spleen was removed for a blood disorder or lymphoma, your child may need more treatment depending on the disorder.When you lift your baby, support both the baby's head and bottom for the first 4 to 6 weeks after surgery. Toddlers and older children will often stop any activity if they get tired. DO NOT press them to do more if they seem tired. Your health care provider will tell you when it is OK for your child to return to school or daycare. This may be as soon as 1 to 2 weeks after surgery. Your child's activity restrictions will depend on: The type of surgery (open or laparoscopic) Your child's age The reason for the operation Ask your doctor about specific activity instructions and limitations. In general, walking and climbing stairs is OK. You can give your child acetaminophen (Tylenol) for pain. The doctor may also prescribe other pain medicines to use at home if your child needs them.Your doctor will tell you when to remove your child's dressings. Care for the incisions as instructed. Keep the incision area clean and dry. Only wash it if instructed by your doctor. You may remove the incision dressings (bandages) to give your child a shower. If strips of tape or surgical glue were used to close the incision: Cover the incision with plastic wrap before showering for the first week. DO NOT try to wash off the tape or glue. They will fall off in about a week. Your child should not soak in a bathtub or hot tub or go swimming until your doctor says it is OK.Most people live a normal active life without a spleen, but there is always a risk of getting an infection. This is because the spleen is part of the body's immune system, helping fight certain infections. Your child will be more likely to get infections without a spleen: Risk of infection is highest in the first 2 years after surgery, or until your child is 5 or 6 years old. Always tell your child's doctor if your child has a fever, sore throat, headache, belly pain, or diarrhea, or an injury that breaks the skin. Most of the time, problems like these will not be serious. But, sometimes they can lead to major infections. For the first week after surgery, check your child's temperature every day. Ask your child's doctor if your child should have (or already had) these vaccines: Pneumonia Meningococcal Haemophilus Flu shot (every year) Your child may need to take antibiotics every day for a while. Tell your child's doctor if the medicine is causing your child any problems. DO NOT stop giving antibiotics before checking with your child's doctor. These things will help prevent infections in your child: Teach your child to wash his or her hands often with soap and water. Family members should do the same. Get your child treated for any bites, especially dog bites, right away. Let your child's doctor know if your child will be traveling out of the country. Your child may need to carry extra antibiotics, take precautions against malaria, and make sure immunizations are up to date. Tell all of your child's health care providers (dentist, doctors, nurses, or nurse practitioners) that your child does not have a spleen. Ask your child's provider about a special bracelet for your child to wear that says your child does not have a spleen.After surgery, most babies and infants (younger than 12 to 15 months) can take as much formula or breast milk as they want. Ask your child's doctor first if this is right for your baby. Your child's provider may tell you how to add extra calories to formula. Give toddlers and older children regular, healthy foods. The provider will tell you about any changes you should make.Call your health care provider if: Your child's temperature is 101 F (38.3 C) or higher. The surgical wounds are bleeding, are red or warm to the touch, or have a thick, yellow, green, or milky drainage. Your child has pain that is not helped by pain medicines. It is hard for your child to breathe. Your child has a cough that does not go away. Your child cannot drink or eat. Your child is not as energetic as usual, is not eating, and looks ill.Splenectomy - child - discharge; Spleen removal - child - discharge.Brandow AM, Camitta BM. Hyposplenism, splenic trauma, and splenectomy.Encyclopedia Entry for Spleen :Spleen removal - laparoscopic - adults - discharge. The type of surgery you had is called laparoscopic splenectomy. The surgeon made 3 to 4 small cuts (incisions) in your belly. The laparoscope and other medical instruments were inserted through these cuts. A harmless gas was pumped into your belly to expand the area to help your surgeon see better.Recovering from surgery usually takes several weeks. You may have some of these symptoms as you recover: Pain around the incisions. When you first get home, you may also feel pain in one or both shoulders. This pain comes from any gas still left in your belly after the surgery. It should go away over several days to a week. A sore throat from the breathing tube that helped you breathe during surgery. Sucking on ice chips or gargling may be soothing. Nausea, and maybe throwing up. Your surgeon can prescribe nausea medicine if you need it. Bruising or redness around your wounds. This will go away on its own. Problems taking deep breaths.Make sure your home is safe as you are recovering. For example, remove throw rugs to prevent tripping and falling. Be sure that you can use your shower or bathtub safely. Have someone stay with you for a few days until you can get around better on your own. Start walking soon after surgery. Begin your everyday activities as soon as you feel up to it. Move around the house, shower, and use the stairs at home during the first week. If it hurts when you do something, stop doing that activity. You may be able to drive after 7 to 10 days if you are not taking narcotic pain medicines. DO NOT do any heavy lifting or straining for the first 1 to 2 weeks after surgery. If you lift or strain and feel any pain or pulling on the incisions, avoid that activity. You may be able to go back to a desk job within a few weeks. It can take up to 6 to 8 weeks to get your normal energy level back.Your doctor will prescribe pain medicines for you to use at home. If you are taking pain pills 3 or 4 times a day, try taking them at the same times each day for 3 to 4 days. They may work better this way. Try getting up and moving around if you are having some pain in your belly. This may ease your pain. Press a pillow over your incision when you cough or sneeze to ease discomfort and protect your incision.If stitches, staples, or glue were used to close your skin, you may remove any dressings (bandages) and take a shower the day after surgery. If strips of tape were used to close your skin, cover the incisions with plastic wrap before showering for the first week. DO NOT try to wash the tape off. They will fall off in about a week. DO NOT soak in a bathtub or hot tub or go swimming until your surgeon tells you it is OK (usually 1 week).Most people live a normal active life without a spleen. But there is always a risk of getting an infection. This is because the spleen is part of the body's immune system, helping fight infections. After your spleen is removed, you will be more likely to get infections: For the first week after surgery, check your temperature every day. Tell the surgeon right away if you have a fever, sore throat, headache, belly pain, or diarrhea, or an injury that breaks your skin. Keeping up to date on your immunizations will be very important. Ask your doctor if you should have these vaccines: Pneumonia Meningococcal Haemophilus Flu shot (every year) Things you can do to help prevent infections: Eat healthy foods to keep your immune system strong. Avoid crowds for the first 2 weeks after you go home. Wash your hands often with soap and water. Ask family members to do the same. Get treated for any bites, human or animal, right away. Protect your skin when you are camping or hiking or doing other outdoor activities. Wear long sleeves and pants. Tell your doctor if you plan to travel out of the country. Tell all of your health care providers (dentist, doctors, nurses, or nurse practitioners) that you do not have a spleen. Buy and wear a bracelet that indicates you do not have a spleen.Call your surgeon or nurse if you have any of the following: Temperature of 101 F (38.3 C), or higher Incisions are bleeding, red or warm to the touch, or have a thick, yellow, green, or milky drainage Your pain medicines are not working It is hard to breathe. Cough that does not go away Cannot drink or eat Develop a skin rash and feel ill.Splenectomy - microscopic - discharge; Laparoscopic splenectomy - discharge.Mier F, Hunter JG. Laparoscopic splenectomy.Encyclopedia Entry for Spleen :Spleen removal - open - adults - discharge. The type of surgery you had is called open surgery. The surgeon made a cut (incision) in the middle of your belly or on the left side of your belly just below the ribs. If you are being treated for cancer, the surgeon probably also removed the lymph nodes in your belly.Recovering from surgery takes 4 to 8 weeks. You may have some of these symptoms as you recover: Pain around the incision for a few weeks. This pain should lessen over time. Sore throat from the breathing tube that helped you breathe during surgery. Sucking on ice chips or gargling may help soothe your throat. Nausea and maybe throwing up. Your surgeon can prescribe nausea medicine if you need it. Bruising or skin redness around your wound. This will go away on its own. Trouble taking deep breaths. If your spleen was removed for a blood disorder or lymphoma, you may need more treatments. This depends on your medical disorder.Make sure your home is safe as you are recovering. For example, remove throw rugs to prevent tripping and falling. Be sure that you can use your shower or bath safely. Have someone stay with you for a few days until you are sure you can take care of yourself. You should be able to do most of your regular activities in 4 to 8 weeks. Before that: DO NOT lift anything heavy until your doctor says it is OK. Avoid all strenuous activity. This includes heavy exercising, weightlifting, and other activities that make you breathe hard, strain, or have pain or discomfort. Short walks and using stairs are OK. Light housework is OK. DO NOT push yourself too hard. Gradually increase how much you are active.Your doctor will prescribe pain medicines for you to use at home. If you are taking pain pills 3 or 4 times a day, try taking them at the same times each day for 3 to 4 days. They may be more effective this way. Try getting up and moving around if you are having pain in your belly. This may ease your pain. Press a pillow over your incision when you cough or sneeze to ease discomfort and protect your incision.Care for your incision as instructed. If the incision was covered with skin glue, you may shower with soap the day after surgery. Pat the area dry. If you have a dressing, change it daily and shower when your surgeon says it is ok. If strips of tape were used to close your incision: Cover the incision with plastic wrap before showering for the first week. DO NOT try to wash off the tape or glue. It will fall off on its own in about a week. DO NOT soak in a bathtub or hot tub or go swimming until your surgeon tells you it is OK.Most people live a normal active life without a spleen. But there is always a risk of getting an infection. This is because the spleen is part of the body's immune system, helping fight infections. After your spleen is removed, you will be more likely to get infections: For the first week after surgery, check your temperature every day. Tell the surgeon right away if you have a fever, sore throat, headache, belly pain, or diarrhea, or an injury that breaks your skin. Keeping up to date on your immunizations will be very important. Ask your doctor if you should have these vaccines: Pneumonia Meningococcal Haemophilus Flu shot (every year) Things you can do to help prevent infections: Eat healthy foods to keep your immune system strong. Avoid crowds for the first 2 weeks after you go home. Wash your hands often with soap and water. Ask family members to do the same. Get treated for any bites, human or animal, right away. Protect your skin when you are camping or hiking or doing other outdoor activities. Wear long sleeves and pants. Tell your doctor if you plan to travel out of the country. Tell all of your health care providers (dentist, doctors, nurses, or nurse practitioners) that you do not have a spleen. Buy and wear a bracelet that indicates you do not have a spleen.Call your surgeon or nurse if you have any of the following: Temperature of 101 F (38.3 C), or higher Incisions are bleeding, red or warm to the touch, or have a thick, yellow, green, or milky drainage Your pain medicines are not working It is hard to breathe Cough that does not go away Cannot drink or eat Develop a skin rash and feel ill.Splenectomy - adult - discharge; Spleen removal - adult - discharge.Poulose BK, Holzman MD. The spleen.Encyclopedia Entry for Spleen :Spleen removal. The spleen is removed while you are under general anesthesia (asleep and pain-free). The surgeon may do either an open splenectomy or a laparoscopic splenectomy. During open spleen removal: The surgeon makes a cut (incision) in the middle of the belly or on the left side of the belly just below the ribs. The spleen is located and removed. If you are also being treated for cancer, lymph nodes in the belly are examined. They may also be removed. The incision is closed using stitches or staples. During laparoscopic spleen removal: The surgeon makes 3 or 4 small cuts in the belly. The surgeon inserts an instrument called a laparoscope through one of the cuts. The scope has a tiny camera and light on the end, which allows the surgeon to see inside the belly. Other instruments are inserted through the other cuts. A harmless gas is pumped into the belly to expand it. This gives the surgeon room to work. The surgeon uses the scope and other instruments to remove the spleen. The scope and other instruments are removed. The incisions are closed using stitches or staples. With laparoscopic surgery, recovery is often faster and less painful than with open surgery. Talk to your surgeon about which type of surgery is right for you or your child.Conditions that may require spleen removal include: Abscess or cyst in the spleen. Blood clot (thrombosis) in the blood vessels of the spleen. Cirrhosis of the liver. Diseases or disorders of blood cells, such as idiopathic thrombocytopenia purpura (ITP), hereditary spherocytosis , thalassemia, hemolytic anemia , and hereditary elliptocytosis. These are all rare conditions. Hypersplenism. Lymphoma , Hodgkin disease , and leukemia. Other tumors or cancers that affect the spleen. Sickle cell anemia. Splenic artery aneurysm (rare). Trauma to the spleen.Risks for anesthesia and surgery in general are: Reactions to medicines Breathing problems Bleeding, blood clots , infection Risks for this surgery include: Blood clot in the portal vein (an important vein that carries blood to the liver) Collapsed lung Hernia at the surgical cut site Increased risk for infection after splenectomy (children are at higher risk than adults for infection) Injury to nearby organs, such as the pancreas, stomach, and colon Pus collection under the diaphragm Risks are the same for both open and laparoscopic spleen removal.You or your child will have many visits with health care providers and several tests before surgery. You may have: A complete physical exam Immunizations, such as the pneumococcal, meningococcal, Haemophilus influenzae , and flu vaccines Screening blood tests, special imaging tests, and other tests to make sure you are healthy enough to have surgery Transfusions to receive extra red blood cells and platelets, if you need them If you smoke, you should try to stop. Smoking increases your risk for problems such as slow healing. Ask your provider for help quitting. Tell the provider: If you are, or might be pregnant. What medicines, vitamins, and other supplements you or your child is taking, even ones that were bought without a prescription. During the week before surgery: You or your child may need to stop taking drugs that make it harder for your blood to clot. These include aspirin, ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin), clopidogrel (Plavix), vitamin E, and warfarin (Coumadin). Ask the surgeon which drugs you or your child should still take on the day of surgery. On the day of surgery: Follow instructions about when you or your child should stop eating or drinking. Take the drugs the surgeon told you or your child to take with a small sip of water. Arrive at the hospital on time.You or your child will spend less than a week in the hospital. The hospital stay may be only 1 or 2 days after a laparoscopic splenectomy. Healing will likely take 4 to 6 weeks. After going home, follow instructions on taking care of yourself or your child.The outcome of this surgery depends on what disease or injuries you or your child has. People who do not have other severe injuries or medical problems often recover after this surgery. After the spleen is removed, a person is more likely to develop infections. Talk with provider about getting needed vaccinations, particularly the yearly flu vaccine. Children may need to take antibiotics to prevent infections. Most adults do not need antibiotics long-term.Splenectomy; Laparoscopic splenectomy; Spleen removal - laparoscopic.Spleen removal - child - discharge Spleen removal - laparoscopic - adults - discharge Spleen removal - open - adults - discharge Surgical wound care - open When you have nausea and vomiting.Red blood cells, target cells Red blood cells, target cells Spleen removal - series Spleen removal - series.Brandow AM, Camitta BM. Hyposplenism, splenic trauma, and splenectomy.