Incidence of infection in children after splenectomy.

Abstract

Eighty-one cases of splenectomy and 94 cases of appendectomy that were carefully followed are reviewed in relation to subsequent infections. One child in each group developed purulent meningitis and four cases of aseptic meningitis were observed in the appendectomized group. It would appear from this series that the incidence of serious infection in children after splenectomy is no higher than in a somewhat similar group after appendectomy.