Skip to main content
PMC home page
Annals of Surgery logoLink to Annals of Surgery
. 1975 Jan;181(1):126–128. doi: 10.1097/00000658-197501000-00026

Mesenteric thrombosis following splenectomy.

J Balz, J P Minton
PMCID: PMC1343728  PMID: 1119861

Abstract

Three cases of postsplenectomy mesenteric thrombosis, two associated with thrombocytosis, are presented. Experience has shown that persistent thrombocytosis, accompanied by abnormal platelet function, is not a benign condition and may be associated with thrombosis. When encountered, postsplenectomy thrombocytosis of greater than 800,000 per mm-3 must be evaluated by platelet function studies and anticoagulation begun. Post-prandial cramping abdominal pain may be an early symptom of thrombosis, demanding immediate anticoagulation. Low-dose heparin, ASA, and dipyridamole are three of the more commonly used treatment modalities. Small bowel resection is indicated if thrombosis occurs.

Full text

PDF
128

Selected References

These references are in PubMed. This may not be the complete list of references from this article.

  1. Bensinger T. A., Logue G. L., Rundles R. W. Hemorrhagic thrombocythemia; control of postsplenectomy thrombocytosis with melphalan. Blood. 1970 Jul;36(1):61–69. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  2. Bull S. M., Zikria B. A., Ferrer J. M. Mesenteric Venous Thrombosis Following Splenectomy: Report of Two Cases. Ann Surg. 1965 Nov;162(5):938–940. doi: 10.1097/00000658-196511000-00020. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  3. HAYES D. M., SPURR C. L., HUTAFF L. W., SHEETS J. A. Post-splenectomy thrombocytosis. Ann Intern Med. 1963 Feb;58:259–267. doi: 10.7326/0003-4819-58-2-259. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  4. Hirsh J., Dacie J. V. Persistent post-splenectomy thrombocytosis and thrombo-embolism: a consequence of continuing anaemia. Br J Haematol. 1966 Jan;12(1):44–53. doi: 10.1111/j.1365-2141.1966.tb00125.x. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  5. JOHNSON C. C., BAGGENSTOSS A. H. Mesenteric vascular occlusion; study of 99 cases of occlusion of veins. Proc Staff Meet Mayo Clin. 1949 Dec 7;24(25):628–636. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  6. LIPSON R. L., BAYRD E. D., WATKINS C. H. The postsplenectomy blood picture. Am J Clin Pathol. 1959 Dec;32:526–532. doi: 10.1093/ajcp/32.6.526. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  7. MILLER E. M., HAGEDORN A. B. Results of splenectomy; a follow-up study of 140 consecutive cases. Ann Surg. 1951 Nov;134(5):815–821. doi: 10.1097/00000658-195111000-00004. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  8. O'Brien J. R., Etherington M., Jamieson S., Klaber M. R. Platelet function in venous thrombosis and low-dosage heparin. Lancet. 1972 Jun 17;1(7764):1302–1305. doi: 10.1016/s0140-6736(72)91033-1. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  9. SALTER P. P., Jr, SHERLOCK E. C. Splenectomy, thrombocytosis, and venous thrombosis. Am Surg. 1957 Jun;23(6):549–554. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  10. Zucker M. B., Peterson J. Inhibition of adenosine diphosphate-induced secondary aggregation and other platelet functions by acetylsalicylic acid ingestion. Proc Soc Exp Biol Med. 1968 Feb;127(2):547–551. doi: 10.3181/00379727-127-32737. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  11. Zucker S., Mielke C. H. Classification of thrombocytosis based on platelet function tests: correlation with hemorrhagic and thrombotic complications. J Lab Clin Med. 1972 Sep;80(3):385–394. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]

Articles from Annals of Surgery are provided here courtesy of Lippincott, Williams, and Wilkins

RESOURCES