How long is the hospital stay for a splenectomy?
Obviously, no general statement can be made about the exact length of stay in hospital after splenectomy. For this purpose, the individual prerequisites (age, secondary diseases, reason for the splenectomy) are simply too different. In addition, every patient reacts differently to the operation, for example with regard to pain.
However, professional monitoring of the surgical wounds and possible internal and surgical complications is of great importance for the healing process and long-term success of the splenectomy. For this reason, you must assume that, even in the very best case, you will have to spend at least five days in hospital. Only in exceptional cases and with complicated procedures can the length of stay occasionally exceed two weeks; for the majority of patients a period of 1 to 2 weeks can be estimated.Therefore, do not lose patience if your surgeon cannot give you an exact time of discharge before or immediately after the operation. This only shows that he or she wants to monitor the development of your physical condition after the operation and make your discharge dependent on the healing process.
What is the diet after splenectomy?
However, since the body is generally more susceptible to infections after a splenectomy, it is more important than ever to eat a healthy and balanced diet. Fruit and vegetables should therefore be included in the diet more frequently and with greater urgency. However, there are no other special rules or prohibitions on diet after a splenectomy, as the spleen does not play a significant role in the nutrient or mineral balance.
What vaccinations should one have after a splenectomy?
Three vaccinations are considered absolutely essential after a splenectomy, namely the vaccinations against pneumococcus, meningococcus and haemophilus influenzae B. This is due to the fact that affected patients have a considerably increased risk of a serious or even fatal infection with one of the pathogens mentioned. For this reason, the prevention of such an infection is particularly important for them and the best method for this is vaccination.
As a rule, all three vaccinations mentioned can be given on the same day. If the splenectomy is a planned and not an emergency operation, the vaccinations should be administered at least two weeks before the operation if possible. If not otherwise possible, they can also be administered up to three days before the operation. In addition, after a splenectomy, it is strongly recommended to have an annual flu vaccination.
