Impact of postoperative infection on changes in leucocyte levels in early postoperative period in patients undergoing splenectomy during cytoreductive surgery for gynaecological malignancy.

Background: In cytoreductive surgery for gynecological cancers, 13-25% of patients require splenectomy. Therefore, hematological parameters change in the post-splenectomy period, especially leucocytosis and thrombocytosis. In this study, we aimed to evaluate the changing of leucocyte and neutrophil between the groups with and without infection in the early postoperative period in patients who underwent splenectomy during cytoreductive surgery for gynecological cancer.

Methods: This retrospective study included 96 patients who underwent splenectomy during cytoreductive surgery for gynecological malignancies. Leukocyte levels, CRP, procalcitonin, and platelet counts were recorded daily during the first five postoperative days. Postoperative infections were identified based on clinical and laboratory findings.

Results: Postoperative infection was observed in 23 patients (24.0%). On postoperative day 4, the mean leukocyte count was 13.2±4.5 ×10³/µL in infected patients vs. 9.8±3.2 ×10³/µL in non-infected patients (p=0.01). By day 5, leukocyte levels remained significantly elevated in the infection group (p<0.05).

Conclusion: Leukocyte trends, especially between days 4 and 5, may serve as a practical marker for early postoperative infection in patients undergoing splenectomy during cytoreductive surgery.