Surgery of the spleen

The spleen is a solid organ located beneath the left hemidiaphragm. Indications for surgical resection include trauma (blunt or penetrating), haematological diseases, abscesses, hydatid disease, oncological resection or immunosuppression. Surgical approaches include open, laparoscopic and, more recently, robotic; the complications of operative intervention will also be discussed. In patients with an absent spleen there is a significant increased risk of developing overwhelming post-splenectomy infection (OPSI). It is therefore essential to protect patients from infection due to encapsulated organisms through vaccination. This requires a combination of vaccinations, antibiotic prophylaxis and good education.