Prof John Windsor

Surgical Diseases of the Spleen

Spleen is a fist-sized organ, located in the upper left part of the stomach, protected by ribs. The spleen has a number of functions, including storing blood, filtering blood, and fighting infection.

The most common reasons for the surgical removal of a spleen include bleeding from trauma, cancer, pain from enlargement (called splenomegaly), and because the spleen is consuming platelets resulting in bruising and bleeding.

The removal of the spleen is done by an open procedure (open splenectomy) when it is done for trauma, gross enlargement and cancer, but is done as a key-hole procedure (laparoscopic splenectomy) for other reasons.

Royal Australasian College of SurgeonsThe University of AucklankMercy Ascotacckuland sages isdeihbpaaasuniversity-society-of-surgeonsssatiap Royal Society Newzealand