What to Expect at Home

Recovering from laparoscopic spleen removal usually takes about 1 to 3 weeks. You may have some of these symptoms as you recover:

• Pain around the incisions. You may also feel pain in one or both shoulders. This pain comes from any residual gas still left in your belly after the surgery. It should decrease over several days to a week.
• A sore throat from the breathing tube. Sucking on ice chips or gargling may be soothing.
• Nausea, and maybe throwing up. Your surgeon can give you a prescription for nausea medicine if you need it.
• Bruising or redness around your wounds. This will go away on its own.
• Problems taking deep breaths

You should be able to keep a normal diet.

Activity

Start walking soon after surgery. Begin your everyday activities as soon as you feel up to it. Move around the house, shower, and use the stairs at home during the first week. If it hurts when you do something, stop doing that activity.

You may be able to drive after 7 - 10 days if you are not taking narcotic pain drugs. You may lift 15 pounds or less. Do NOT do any heavy lifting or straining for the first 1 to 2 weeks after surgery.

You may be able to go back to a desk job within a few weeks.

Managing Pain

Your doctor will prescribe pain medicines for you to use at home. If you are taking pain pills 3 or 4 times a day, try taking them at the same times each day for 3 to 4 days. They may work better this way.

Try getting up and moving around if you are having some pain in your belly. This may ease your pain.

Press a pillow over your incision when you cough or sneeze to ease discomfort and protect your incision.

Make sure your home is safe as you are recovering.

See also:

• Preventing falls
• Bathroom safety - adults

Wound Care

If sutures (stitches), staples, or glue were used to close your skin, you may remove the wound dressings (bandages) and take a shower the day after surgery.

If tape strips (Steri-Strips) were used to close your skin, cover the wounds with plastic wrap before showering for the first week. Do not try to wash the Steri-Strips off. They will fall off in about a week.

Do not soak in a bathtub or hot tub or go swimming until your doctor tells you it is okay (usually 1 week).

Preventing Infections

Most people live a normal active life without a spleen, but there is always a risk of infection.

You will be more likely to get infections after your spleen is removed.

• For the first week after surgery, check your temperature every day.
• Always tell your doctor if you have a fever, sore throat, headache, belly pain, or diarrhea, or an injury that breaks your skin.

Keeping up to date on your immunizations will be very important. Ask your doctor if you should have these vaccinations:

• Pneumonia vaccination
• Meningococcal vaccination
• Haemophilus vaccination
• Flu shot (every year)

You may need to take antibiotics every day for some time. Do NOT just stop taking antibiotics before checking with your doctor. Some people will need to take antibiotics every day for several years after surgery.

Things you can do to help prevent infections:

• Get treated for any bites, especially dog bites, right away.
• Protect your skin when you are camping or hiking or doing other outdoor activities. Wear long sleeves and pants.
• Tell your doctor if you plan to travel out of the country.
• Tell all of your health care providers (dentist, doctors, nurses, or nurse practitioners) that you do not have a spleen.
• You can even buy and wear a bracelet that will tell all health care workers that you do not have a spleen.

When to Call the Doctor

Call your doctor or nurse if:

• Your temperature is above 101 °F.
• Your surgical wounds are bleeding, are red or warm to the touch, or have a thick, yellow, green, or milky drainage.
• You have pain that your pain medicines are not helping.
• It is hard to breathe.
• You have a cough that does not go away.
• You cannot drink or eat.
• You develop a skin rash and feel ill.

Alternate Names

Splenectomy - microscopic - discharge; Laparoscopic splenectomy - discharge

References

Cadili A, de Gara C. Complications of splenectomy. American Journal of Medicine. May 2008;121(5).

Beauchamp RD, Holzman MD, Fabian TC, Weinberg JA. The spleen. In: Townsend CM, Beauchamp RD, Evers BM, Mattox KL, eds. Sabiston Textbook of Surgery. 18th ed. Philadelphia, Pa: Saunders Elsevier; 2008:chap 56.

Update Date: 2/9/2011

Updated by: Shabir Bhimji, MD, PhD, Specializing in General Surgery, Cardiothoracic and Vascular Surgery, Midland, TX. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network. Also reviewed by David Zieve, MD, MHA, Medical Director, A.D.A.M., Inc.