Splenectomy (surgical removal of the spleen): usually as a longer-planned, elective procedure for the treatment of anemia (see Indications below).
Indications
- Chronic anemia, when the erythrocytes (red blood cells) in the spleen are increasingly degraded.
- Chronic anemias requiring transfusions (e.g., thalassemias, Diamond-Blackfan anemia) when there is an unexplained increase in red blood cell requirements and regular transfusions are necessary with an interval of < 2 weeks
Further notes
- In childhood and adolescence, hereditary spherocytosis is the most important indication for splenectomy.
