Incidence and risk factors for sepsis after childhood splenectomy

Study of 195 pediatric splenectomy patients found 7% developed sepsis at a rate of 1.8 events per 100 person-years, with 62% occurring beyond the first postoperative year. Younger age at splenectomy was associated with increased sepsis risk, highlighting the need for long-term vigilance regarding immunologic dysfunction in asplenic children.