Complications Following Splenectomy With Special Emphasis on Drainage

OF THE MANY controversial problems that exist in surgery today, that of drainage versus nondrainage following splenectomy remains to be solved. Recently, a report by Cohn¹ tended to incriminate drainage of the splenic bed as a possible source of increased postoperative complications of the local-infection type. In the past, no controlled studies have been offered to lend support to either proponents or opponents^2,3 of postsplenectomy drainage. The paucity of statistical knowledge concerning this controversy has stimulated the present review of our experience.

Material and Methods  During the ten-year period, 1955 through 1964, splenectomy was performed on 106 patients. The indications and complications were analyzed. Particular interest was focused on whether the splenic bed was drained.The age of the patients ranged from 17 months to 74 years. The average for the entire group was 35.5 years, and there was a slight preponderance of male over female.

Indication for