THE THERAPEUTIC value of splenectomy in certain blood dyscrasias has become more widely recognized during the past twenty-five years. Despite the fact that splenic function is not fully understood, sufficient progress has been made as a result of both clinical and hematologic investigation to permit of definite conclusions as to treatment. Splenic dysfunction occurs in congenital hemolytic icterus, thrombocytopenic purpura and Banti's syndrome. In such diseases splenectomy is especially beneficial.
It is the purpose of this paper to present the principal indications for splenectomy in children and to evaluate results obtained. Splenectomy was performed on 55 children at the University Hospital between September 1933 and August 1946. The youngest child was 30 days old and the oldest 12 years. Among the indications for operation were congenital hemolytic icterus (20 children), thrombocytopenic purpura (22 children) and the Banti syndrome (7 children). In the remaining 6, splenectomy was performed for rarer disturbances,