The role of splenic implants in spleen injuries and postoperative immunity

INTRODUCTION: Spleen preservation by autotransplantation is indicated in cases of injuries which result with conquassation or total devascularization of this organ. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Thirty dogs, experimental group, had multiple, devascularized spleen injuries and underwent splenectomy and splenic autotransplantation. The same number of animals were treated by primary splenectomy (control group). Seventy five days later, animals from both groups were exposed to pneumococcal sepsis--by intravenous inoculation of sublethal pneumococcal doses, in order to estimate the immunity of lienal implants and compare the mortality rate between these two groups. RESULTS: Positive hemoculture, as well as logarithmic increase of diplococci in blood samples was established in all 60 animals. Higher mortality rate and significantly higher pneumococcal growth was established in control, compared to experimental group. CONCLUSION: These results point to the important role of lienal implants in total immunity and advantage of autotransplantation compared to conventional splenectomy, in cases of most severe and nonreconstructibile spleen injuries.