splenectomy
3
8.8
- noun
- /splɪˈnɛk.tə.mi/
- Specialized
- We studied three men and five women with type 1 Gaucher's disease, aged 25-51 years, of whom five had had splenectomy 3 to 30 years previously.
- splenectomy specimen
- splenectomy patients
Examples
-
Splenectomy is another compelling indication for the pneumococcal vaccine.
Academic text (2007) -
Splenectomy was done at age 3 months for persistent massive splenomegaly with hypersplenism.
Academic text (2000) -
One example of this is following splenectomy, where patients are often found to have a raised lymphocyte count, but this is normal in light of their medical history.
Academic text (2012) -
Laparoscopic splenectomy is a real alternative to conventional splenectomy for some hematologic diseases, particularly idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura and hemolytic anemia.
Academic text (2007) -
Thus, although splenectomy should not be done routinely as an adjunct to enzyme therapy, it may be needed in the few patients with massive organ enlargement who fail to respond to high-frequency enzyme infusions.
Academic text (1996) -
The patient had to undergo a splenectomy due to a serious infection.
-
Following his splenectomy, he was advised to avoid certain sports.
-
A splenectomy can improve the quality of life for those with specific blood disorders.
Surface Forms
Morphology
splenectomy = spleen (opaque) = splen + ectomy
The word uses the medical combining form for 'spleen' plus the surgical suffix '-ectomy', but the full form is specialized and not readily guessable for average learners.
Etymology
Splenectomy comes from Greek parts: splen- meaning 'spleen' and -ectomy meaning 'cutting out'. So, like an appendectomy, it is an operation to remove the spleen.