A splenectomy is removal of the spleen. It is usually needed to treat blood disorders, injury to the spleen from trauma, or when the spleen becomes too pig. The surgery is done under general anaesthetic and can be either keyhole or open. Short term complications that can happen are bleeding, injury to nearby organs, and infection of the surgical scar. The biggest long-term complication is infection, as the spleen is not there anymore to develop immune cells. Vaccination should be given beforehand, and antibiotics should be given after to lower the risk of getting an infection.
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