Splenic Infarction as a Delayed Febrile Complication Following Radical Gastrectomy for Gastric Cancer Patients: Computed Tomography-Based Analysis

The aim of this study was to evaluate the incidence and clinical characteristics of splenic infarction (SI) in gastric cancer patients who have undergone gastrectomy. For this study, the medical records of 1084 patients were reviewed and 877 patients were ultimately enrolled. The times of symptom onset, diagnosis of SI, and complete resolution on CT were calculated from the day of the operation. Based on the wedge shape of the SI in all cases, the total volume of the SI was measured based on that of a corn kernel. Thirty-six patients (4.10%) were diagnosed with SI after gastrectomy; four of these patients (0.45%) developed complications associated with the SI. Total gastrectomy and extended lymph node dissection were risk factors for development of SI. Patients with complications exhibited inflammatory signs between 7 and 10 days after surgery. The mean volume of the SI was 4025.69 mm3. The mean time to complete resolution on the CT scan was 327 days postoperatively. In 30 cases, small branched arteries from the splenic artery that could have caused the SI were retrospectively detected on the preoperative CT scans. Although the incidence of the SI was low, large volume of the SI is associated with complication development. Measuring the infarction volume via a CT scan may be useful to decide on the treatment strategy. Preoperative 3-D reconstruction of the splenic artery tributaries may help reduce the risk of inadvertent SI.