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Born-again spleen. Return of splenic function after splenectomy for trauma

Journal Article · · New Engl. J. Med.; (United States)
; ; ;

We assessed splenic activity after splenectomy by interference phase microscopical examination of circulating red cells. Normal eusplenic children had a low number (<1%) of red cells with surface indentations or pits. About 20% of red cells of children who had electively been subjected to splenectomy for hematologic indications were pitted. Thirteen of 22 children who had had emergency splenectomy because of traumatic injury had a low percentage of pitted red cells, suggesting a return of splenic function. In five of these children a /sup 99m/Tc sulfur colloid scan demonstrated multiple nodules of recurrent splenic tissue. In contrast to the prevailing opinion that splenosis is rare, we have found it to be a frequent occurrence. Return of splenic function may, in part, account for the low frequency with which overwhelming bacterial sepsis and meningitis have been documented after splenectomy for traumatic indications.

Research Organization:
Yale Univ., New Haven
OSTI ID:
6755884
Journal Information:
New Engl. J. Med.; (United States), Journal Name: New Engl. J. Med.; (United States) Vol. 298:25; ISSN NEJMA
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English

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Related Subjects

550601* -- Medicine-- Unsealed Radionuclides in Diagnostics
62 RADIOLOGY AND NUCLEAR MEDICINE
ANIMALS
BETA DECAY RADIOISOTOPES
BETA-MINUS DECAY RADIOISOTOPES
BIOLOGICAL MATERIALS
BIOLOGICAL RECOVERY
BIOLOGICAL REGENERATION
BLOOD
BLOOD CELLS
BODY
BODY FLUIDS
CHILDREN
COLLOIDS
COMPLEXES
COUNTING TECHNIQUES
DIAGNOSTIC TECHNIQUES
DISPERSIONS
ERYTHROCYTES
HOURS LIVING RADIOISOTOPES
INJURIES
INTERMEDIATE MASS NUCLEI
ISOMERIC NUCLEI
ISOMERIC TRANSITION ISOTOPES
ISOTOPES
MAMMALS
MAN
MEDICINE
MICROSCOPY
NUCLEI
ODD-EVEN NUCLEI
ORGANS
PATIENTS
PRIMATES
RADIOCOLLOIDS
RADIOISOTOPE SCANNING
RADIOISOTOPES
RECOVERY
SCINTISCANNING
SPLEEN
SPLENECTOMY
SULFUR COMPLEXES
SURGERY
TECHNETIUM 99
TECHNETIUM ISOTOPES
VERTEBRATES
YEARS LIVING RADIOISOTOPES