The effects of splenectomy in 41 patients managed from 1982 to 1995 at Sher
-i-Kashmir Institute of Medical Sciences, Srinagar (Jammu and Kashmir), Ind
ia, were studied. Immune thrombocytopenic purpura (ITP) was the main indica
tion for therapeutic splenectomy among all the hematologic disorders. The m
ean age was 30 years (range 7-64), and the male to female ratio was 1.05:1.
The mean platelet count in the preoperative period was 31,751/mm(3) (range
4000-85,000). All patients presented with thrombocytopenia, i.e., platelet
count of <100,000/mm(3). In addition, 5 patients presented with anemia, i.
e., Hb <10 g%. Among the patients with thrombocytopenia, 30 patients presen
ted with counts <50,000/mm3 and II patients presented with counts between 5
0,000-100,000/mm3. None of the patients presented with leukopenia. The morb
idity observed was 15% and mortality was 2%. The response to splenectomy wa
s complete for thrombocytopenia in 3 patients and partial in 5 patients; 4
patients failed to show any response. In anemic patients, 4 patients showed
complete response and 1 patient showed no response. The prognosis was exce
llent in patients with platelet count >50,000/mm(3), age <50 years, no conc
omitant disease, and disease of shorter duration.