Overwhelming postsplenectomy infection syndrome in adults - A clinically preventable disease

Table 1 Clinical features of overwhelming postsplenectomy infection

Cryptic infection (no obvious focus)

Short, nonspecific prodrome

Massive bacteremia with encapsulated organism

Septic shock with disseminated intravascular coagulation

Marked virulence: 50% to 70% mortality

Death ensues in 24 to 48 h

Overwhelming postsplenectomy infection had been defined as septicemia and/or meningitis, usually fulminant but not necessarily fatal, and occurring at any time after removal of the spleen.