Overwhelming Postsplenectomy Sepsis in Children.

Abstract

Overwhelming postsplenectomy sepsis occurs in 1.5 to 24.8 percent of splenectomized individuals. Two factors influence its incidence: age at the time of splenectomy and the underlying condition for which the spleen was removed. The infection is fatal in 50 to 80 percent of cases and the most common organism responsible is the pneumococcus. Oral penicillin and the polyvalent pneumococcal vaccine provide some protection against pneumococcal sepsis. Twenty-three children underwent splenectomies at the King Faisal Specialist Hospital and Research Centre over a period of five years. Two of these children developed serious sepsis. In addition, two children who underwent splenectomy in other hospitals were admitted to King Faisal Specialist Hospital and Research Centre in septic shock. None of these children was taking penicillin at the time sepsis occurred and only one child had been vaccinated.

Staging Laparotomy and Splenectomy for Hodgkin’s Disease in Children—Reassessment

“…One of the children with SS III died from overwhelming sepsis and a second patient was lost to follow up while in complete remission. 9 All remaining patients are currently enjoying disease-free survival of one to five years after diagnosis (median 29 months). Immediate and short-term side effects from radiation and chemotherapy have been insignificant.…”