Splenectomy raises the risk of venous thrombosis, cardiovascular events and cancer well beyond the first decade after surgery.
Original statement
أظهر كريستينسون (8,149 من المحاربين، متابعة 27 عاماً) ارتفاعاً مستمراً في الالتهاب الرئوي والإنتان والجلطات والأورام يمتد لما بعد العقد الأول من العملية.
verbatim according to source. Translation by the project; the Arabic wording is authoritative.
Translation
Splenectomy raises the risk of venous thrombosis, cardiovascular events and cancer well beyond the first decade after surgery.
Origin
- Source status
- Archive editors
- Attribution
- Archive editors (eltayebat.com); not necessarily Elawady's own words
- Origin
- https://eltayebat.com/rule/unnecessary-organ-removal/
- Attribution uncertainty
- Editorial summary/narrative and study selection written by the archive operators; the archive states that the cited research documents harm independently of Dr. Diaa's words.
- Claimed mechanism
Loss of spleen.
- Claimed health effect
Thrombosis, CVD, cancer.
- Population concerned
Splenectomized patients
- Geographic restriction by Elawady
not applicable
Scientific assessment
Potentially true – Some evidence points in favour of the statement, but it is not sufficient for a clear judgement.
Certainty of evidence: low – Further research is likely to change the assessment considerably.
1. What was claimed?
Splenectomy raises VTE, CV and cancer risk.
2. What is demonstrably correct?
DVT/PE RR 2.2; certain solid and haematologic cancers RR 1.3-6.0 (A-ORG-16); stroke risk elevated even vs disease-matched patients (HR 1.56, A-ORG-17).
3. What is wrong or exaggerated?
When compared with patients who had the same underlying diseases, the excess myocardial infarction and pulmonary hypertension risk disappeared (A-ORG-17); haematologic cancers after splenectomy may reflect the conditions that led to the operation. The archive presents all risks as consequences of splenectomy.
4. What remains unclear?
Which risks are causal.
5. Which studies support it?
6. Which studies contradict it?
A-ORG-17 (MI, pulmonary hypertension).
7. What applies to Germany and Europe?
Most cited cohorts are Scandinavian (Denmark, Sweden) and directly European; RCTs from the UK and Finland are directly transferable. Guidelines in Europe also emphasize defined indications (not verified here in detail).
8. What is known about Egypt?
No Egypt-specific data on rates or outcomes of tonsillectomy, cholecystectomy, hysterectomy, splenectomy or thyroid surgery were identified in this review.
9. What practical conclusion is appropriate?
Thromboprophylaxis and surveillance are recommended by study authors; causal cancer risk unclear.
Assessment details
- Rationale for certainty of evidence
Associations shown, but confounding by the underlying disease is substantial; a disease-matched comparison (archive-cited) explained part of the CV risk.
- Source quality
Correct numbers; the archive omits its own cited Rørholt 2017 finding.
- Regional transferability
Danish and US data.
- Individual exceptions
n/a
- Regional scope of the claim
- general (biological/medical)
- Last reviewed
- 25 October 2026 provisional
In plain language
The archive says spleen removal increases blood clots, heart disease and cancer for many years. A US study found such associations, but many people have their spleen removed because of diseases that themselves raise these risks. A Danish study cited by the archive compared patients with the same diseases and found that only stroke risk remained higher.
Studies on this claim
Studies supporting the claim (1)
-
Long-term risks after spleen removal in US veterans
Kristinsson SY et al.. Haematologica 2014 · PMID 24056815 · DOI 10.3324/haematol.2013.092460Cohort studycited by the Tayebat archiveabstract only checked★ key studySerious infections were 2-3 times more frequent and blood clots about 2 times more frequent after spleen removal.
Splenectomy raises the risk of venous thrombosis, cardiovascular events and cancer well beyond the first decade after surgery.
Does the study support the specific claim? Partly · Methodological quality: moderate · Certainty of evidence: see overall assessment of the claim
Original publication · Scientific details
Study explained simply
- What did the researchers want to find out?
Splenectomy risks
- How was the study done?
Cohort
- How many people, animals or samples were studied?
8149
- What was actually found?
Higher infections, clots, cancers
- How large was the observed effect?
RR 1.9-3.4 infections
- What do the results mean in everyday life?
Vaccination and prophylaxis are important
- What are the study's limitations?
Confounding by indication
- What does it say about Elawady's specific claim?
Supports infection risk; cancer less certain
- Do the results apply to Germany and Europe?
Applicable
- What can explicitly not be concluded from this study?
Causation for cancer
No study in this group is marked as key.
Studies contradicting or limiting the claim (1)
-
Denmark: heart and lung risks after spleen removal
Rørholt M et al.. Haematologica 2017 · PMID 28572164 · DOI 10.3324/haematol.2016.157008Cohort studycited by the Tayebat archiveabstract only checkedCompared with patients with the same diseases, only stroke risk stayed higher; heart attack risk was explained by the underlying disease.
Splenectomy raises the risk of venous thrombosis, cardiovascular events and cancer well beyond the first decade after surgery.
Does the study support the specific claim? Partly · Methodological quality: high · Certainty of evidence: see overall assessment of the claim
Original publication · Scientific details
Study explained simply
- What did the researchers want to find out?
CV risk
- How was the study done?
Cohort with disease-matched controls
- How many people, animals or samples were studied?
~70,000
- What was actually found?
Stroke HR 1.56
- How large was the observed effect?
HR 1.56
- What do the results mean in everyday life?
Some but not all risks are due to the operation
- What are the study's limitations?
5 years
- What does it say about Elawady's specific claim?
Limits claim
- Do the results apply to Germany and Europe?
European
- What can explicitly not be concluded from this study?
Long-term
No study in this group is marked as key.
Studies with mixed or unclear results (0)
No studies in this group.
Regional context
Germany / EU
Most cited cohorts are Scandinavian (Denmark, Sweden) and directly European; RCTs from the UK and Finland are directly transferable. Guidelines in Europe also emphasize defined indications (not verified here in detail).
Egypt
No Egypt-specific data on rates or outcomes of tonsillectomy, cholecystectomy, hysterectomy, splenectomy or thyroid surgery were identified in this review.
What applies in my country?
General scientific assessment
Potentially true Some risks plausible (stroke, clots); cancer and heart risk partly due to underlying disease.
This statement concerns biological or medical relationships. The scientific assessment above applies regardless of the country; country-specific food data do not change it.
References
- Long-term risks after splenectomy among 8,149 cancer-free American veterans: a cohort study with up to 27 years follow-up.. Kristinsson SY et al.. Haematologica 2014 · PMID 24056815 · DOI 10.3324/haematol.2013.092460
- Risk of cardiovascular events and pulmonary hypertension following splenectomy - a Danish population-based cohort study from 1996-2012.. Rørholt M et al.. Haematologica 2017 · PMID 28572164 · DOI 10.3324/haematol.2016.157008