Thrombocytosis and portal vein thrombosis after splenectomy for paediatric haemolytic disorders: How should they be managed?

Hemorheological Alteration in Patients with Cirrhosis Clinically Diagnosed with Portal Vein System Thrombosis After Splenectomy

Background

Portal vein system thrombosis (PVST) is a common and serious complication after splenectomy. Key factors, including wider diameters of the portal vein, decreased liver function, and high flow volume of portosystemic collateral vessel, are recognized PVST risks. Relationships between PVST and altered hemorheology, including increased plasma viscosity, remain unclear. We investigated hemorheological alterations and explored risk factors of PVST in patients with cirrhosis after splenectomy.

Material/Methods

Data on patients with cirrhosis who underwent splenectomy were collected retrospectively from January 2018 to June 2020. Color Doppler ultrasonography was performed after splenectomy. Hemorheological indexes were compared between groups. Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) analysis was conducted to analyze risk factor cutoff values. Univariate and multivariate analyses were conducted to explore risk factors of PVST.

Results

A total of 50 patients were divided into a PVST group (n=30) and control group (n=20). Hemorheological indexes of activated partial thromboplastin time, fibrinogen degradation products (FDP), D-dimer, middle shear rates 50 and 30, low shear rates 5 and 1, and hematocrit in the PVST group were significantly higher than those of the control group (P<0.05). FDP and low shear rate 1 were found to be risk factors of PVST after splenectomy by multivariate analysis. ROC analysis showed that the cutoff points for FDP and low shear rate 1 were ≥38.6 ug/mL and ≥16.855 mPa.s, respectively.

Conclusions

PVST after splenectomy is closely related to hemorheological alteration. FDP and low shear rate 1 may be valuable markers of PVST.

Portal Vein Thrombosis Following Splenectomy in Children: Is There a Higher Rate When Using Single-Incision Laparoscopy?

BACKGROUND

Portal vein thrombosis can be a life-threatening complication associated with a splenectomy. Laparoscopic splenectomy has been suggested to cause an increased rate of portal vein thrombosis. Our study evaluated the rate of portal vein thrombosis in pediatric patients who underwent a splenectomy via single-site laparoscopy.

METHODS

A retrospective chart review was performed for all patients undergoing laparoscopic splenectomy from November 2012 to July 2019. Demographic data, operative details, postoperative imaging, and patient outcomes were obtained for analysis. Patients were contacted to determine if they had any complications for which they sought medical care elsewhere.

RESULTS

There were 78 pediatric patients who underwent laparoscopic splenectomy over the 7-year period. The most common indication was sickle cell disease (70.5%). Single-incision laparoscopy was performed in 61.5% of the cases. Eight were converted to open. Eleven patients (14.1%) had a laparoscopic cholecystectomy performed during the same operation. The overall complication rate was 8.9%. A quarter of our patients had imaging within 1 year of surgery; no portal vein thrombosis was identified. In addition, over half of the patients were recontacted for follow-up questioning. None of the patients surveyed sought medical care elsewhere for a surgery-related complication or sequela of a portal vein thrombus.

DISCUSSION

Single-incision laparoscopic splenectomy is a safe approach in children. Using the single-site platform allows the flexibility to perform additional operations, such as cholecystectomy, without the placement of additional ports. This analysis shows that patients undergoing single-incision laparoscopic splenectomy do not have a higher rate for portal vein thrombosis.

Clinical course and short-term outcome of postsplenectomy reactive thrombocytosis in children without myeloproliferative disorders: A single institutional experience from a developing country

OBJECTIVES

To evaluate the clinical outcome and complications in the pediatric population who had splenectomy at our institution, emphasizing the incidence of postplenectomy reactive thrombocytosis (RT) and its clinical significance in children without underlying hematological malignancies.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

The medical records of pediatric patients undergoing splenectomy were retrospectively reviewed for the period 1999-2018. The following variables were analyzed: Demographic parameters (age, sex), indications for surgery, operative procedures, preoperative and postoperative platelet count (postplenectomy RT), the use of anticoagulant therapy, and postoperative complications. The patients were divided into two groups according to indications for splenectomy: The non-neoplastic hematology group and the non-hematology group (splenectomy for trauma or other spleen non-hematological pathology).

RESULTS

Fifty-two pediatric (37 male and 15 female) patients who underwent splenectomy at our institution were reviewed. Thirty-four patients (65%) were in the non-hematological group (splenic rupture, cysts, and abscess) and 18 patients (35%) in the non-neoplastic hematological group (hereditary spherocytosis and immune thrombocytopenia). The two groups did not differ significantly in regards to the patients' age, sex, and preoperative platelet count (P>0.05 for all variables). Forty-nine patients (94.2%) developed postplenectomy RT. The percentages of mild, moderate and extreme thrombocytosis were 48.9%, 30.7%, and 20.4%, respectively. The comparisons of RT patients between the non-neoplastic hematology and the non-hematology group revealed no significant differences in regards to the patients' age, sex, preoperative and postoperative platelet counts, preoperative and postoperative leukocyte counts, and the average length of hospital stay (P>0.05 for all variables). None of the patients from the cohort was affected by any thrombotic or hemorrhagic complications.

CONCLUSIONS

We confirm that RT is a very common event following splenectomy, but in this study it was not associated with clinically evident thrombotic or hemorrhagic complications in children undergoing splenectomy for trauma, structural lesions or non-neoplastic hematological disorders.