Hello,
Removal of
spleen is necessary in case of your daughter. This is because while she is having
ITP, her immune systems treats thrombocytes as foreign bodies, so starts to destroy them.
The spleen is our body organ responsible to remove these destroyed thrombocytes. So, by removing the spleen, more thrombocytes will keep circulating.
Now, in children, doctors will put on balance the benefits from severe complications such as heavy bleeding that would be life-threatening with the risk for infection on the other side.
If the benefits will outweigh the risks, then, doctors decide to remove the spleen before teenage. Otherwise, it is advised to weight until teenage is reached.
Hope I have answered your query. Let me know if I can assist you further.
Take care
Regards,
Dr Albana Sejdini, General & Family Physician