Milzchirurgie im Kindesalter – Splenektomie versus Milzteilresektion

Surgery of the Spleen in Childhood – Splenectomy versus Partial Splenectomy In the past, partiell splenectomy was seen as a practicable possibility to avoid the severe postsplenectomy infection. The most frequent indications for surgery of the spleen are benign hematologic diseases. Partial splenectomy was used especially in spherocytosis and hereditary thrombocytopenic purpura. For most of the children of these indication groups, after partiell splenectomy it was necessary to remove the remaining spleen. In contrast to this aspect, the treatment of traumatic spleen rupture and big splenic cysts as well as the therapeutic procedure in portal hypertension is mainly to save the spleen. This fact is shown in our own results. A case report of 125 patients during a period from 1970 to 1990 in the pediatric surgery departments Charite Berlin and Berlin-Buch were examined. We present our therapeutic concept in the treatment of patients with diseases of the spleen that results from our analysis of the experiences of 20 years.