Diagnosis of Infection after Splenectomy for Trauma Should Be Based on Lack of Platelets Rather Than White Blood Cell Count

Abstract

Patients who undergo TS have high rates of infectious complications. The WBC is not a reliable predictor of infection in these patients in the 2 wks following TS. However, patients who do not develop infection after TS have statistically significantly higher absolute platelet counts and rates of change in their daily platelet counts than those who develop infection.