The incidence of malaria after splenectomy in Papua New Guinea

In the tropics, as in the developed world, the spleen is the commonest intra-abdominal organ to be injured.1 2 Splenic enlargement due to chronic malaria predisposes to splenic injury, particularly in low velocity blunt trauma due to domestic violence or assault, both of which are common in Papua New Guinea. In developed countries the risk of sepsis after splenectomy has resulted in a more conservative approach to splenic trauma.3 4 In the tropics death from malaria after splenectomy has been reported, but no formal study has been undertaken.2 5 We studied the sequelae of splenic trauma and splenectomy in patients living in an area of Papua New Guinea where malaria is endemic.