It is an observational and descriptive study conducted in Department of Paediatric Surgery in collaboration with hematology, radiology,
anesthesia and paediatric
intensive care department at The Children's Hospital and the Institute of Child Health, Multan during the period of September 2007 to September 2013. A total of 50 patients suffering from
thalassemia major already diagnosed and under management reffered from haematology department for
splenectomy were included in this study. After admission, patients were assessed on the basis of history, clinical examination, and necessary investigations before surgery and later on follow-up. Investigations carried were CBC, PT, APTT,
Viral markers, ECG, X-ray Chest, abdominal ultrasonography and ECHO if necessary.
Splenectomy was performed after prophylactic vaccination against post
splenectomy infections. Follow up was performed for at least two years.
Blood transfusion requirements and number of hospital visits per annum before and after
splenectomy were calculated and results analyzed statistically using SPSS-20.
RESULTS: Fifty patients were included in this study. Out of these fifty, 43 (86%) male and 7(14%) were female with a mean age of 9 years. Average
blood transfusion requirement was 250 ml/kg/year, interval of
blood transfusion was two weeks and twenty five visits per year before
splenectomy. After
splenectomy, requirement of
blood transfusion reduced to 125ml/kg/year, interval between transfusion increased to one month and hospital visits reduced up to twelve per year.
CONCLUSION: