splenectomy
Removing the spleen
Splenectomy is the surgical removal of the spleen.
The procedure may be necessary after traumatic injury or to treat certain blood disorders and cancers: She underwent a splenectomy after the car accident ruptured her spleen.
People can live without a spleen but face increased vulnerability to certain infections.
Via small abdominal incisions
- resectionSurgical tissue removal
- excisionCutting out of tissue
- incisionControlled cut into tissue
- ablationRemoval by cutting, melting
anesthesia · sterile · surgical · dissection · extraction · debridement · hemostasis · ligation
Reduced ability to fight infection
- vaccinationAdministered immunity booster
- pneumococcalRelating to lung-infecting bacteria
- meningococcalOf a certain bacterium
- Howell-Jolly bodiesRetained nuclear fragments in erythrocytes
Lasting psychological wound
- ruptureViolent tearing apart
- lymphomaCancer from immune cells
- leukemiaMalignancy of blood-forming tissues
- thalassemiaHereditary hemoglobin production defect
Seed's umbilical mark
- capsuleEnclosed dose container
- diaphragmMuscle separating chest, abdomen
- peritoneumMembrane lining the abdomen
After an operation
- convalescencePost-illness healing phase
- rehabilitationRecovery from injury/addiction
- hospitalizationFormal entry into medical care
- wound careTreatment of bodily injuries
pain management · dietary adjustment · discharge · follow-up · complications · hematologist · aftercare · monitoring
Physician specializing in blood
- oncologistPhysician specializing in tumors
- surgeonPhysician who operates
- trauma surgeonDoctor for life-threatening injuries
- pediatric surgeonPhysician operating on children
anesthesiologist · infectious disease · immunologist · pathologist · gastroenterologist
laparoscopic
Via small abdominal incisions
ablation · anesthesia · sterile · surgical · dissection · extraction · debridement · hemostasis · ligation · mobilization
immunocompromised
Reduced ability to fight infection
- vaccinationAdministered immunity booster
- pneumococcalRelating to lung-infecting bacteria
- meningococcalOf a certain bacterium
trauma
Lasting psychological wound
hilum
Seed's umbilical mark
- capsuleEnclosed dose container
- diaphragmMuscle separating chest, abdomen
- peritoneumMembrane lining the abdomen
postoperative
After an operation
- convalescencePost-illness healing phase
- rehabilitationRecovery from injury/addiction
- hospitalizationFormal entry into medical care
wound care · pain management · dietary adjustment · discharge · follow-up · complications · hematologist · aftercare · monitoring · blood counts
hematologist
Physician specializing in blood
- oncologistPhysician specializing in tumors
- surgeonPhysician who operates
- trauma surgeonDoctor for life-threatening injuries
pediatric surgeon · anesthesiologist · infectious disease · immunologist · pathologist · gastroenterologist
- medical proceduressurgery, transplant, bypass surgery, biopsy, heart surgery
- surgeriessurgery, appendectomy, hysterectomy, minor surgery, elective surgery
- cancer treatmentchemotherapy, radiation therapy, immunotherapy, surgery, radiotherapy
- emergency surgeryemergency surgery, trauma care, surgical teams, surgical tools, resuscitation
- proceduresprocedure, surgery, procedures, process, autopsy
- spleensplenic
splenectomyobservation
Attentive watching or remark
watchful waiting · imaging · biopsy · needle biopsy · medical management