Published online Jul 28, 2015. doi: 10.5320/wjr.v5.i2.69
Peer-review started: January 30, 2015
First decision: March 6, 2015
Revised: March 25, 2015
Accepted: May 8, 2015
Article in press: May 11, 2015
Published online: July 28, 2015
Processing time: 186 Days and 13.4 Hours
Splenectomy predisposes patients to a slew of infectious and non-infectious complications including pulmonary vascular disease. Patients are at increased risk for venous thromboembolic events due to various mechanisms that may lead to chronic thromboembolic pulmonary hypertension (CTEPH). The development of CTEPH and pulmonary vasculopathy after splenectomy involves complex pathophysiologic mechanisms, some of which remain unclear. This review attempts to congregate the current evidence behind our understanding about the etio-pathogenesis of pulmonary vascular disease related to splenectomy and highlight the controversies that surround its management.
Core tip: Pulmonary hypertension is an often under-recognized non-infectious complication after splenectomy. The mechanisms for the development of pulmonary hypertension in this setting are multifactorial and are not clearly elucidated. We attempt to outline and highlight the current evidence behind these proposed mechanisms of post splenectomy related pulmonary hypertension.