Paediatric Splenectomy at the National Centre for Paediatric Surgery, Sudan: A Five-Year Cross-Sectional Retrospective Study.

BACKGROUND: Splenectomy is a common paediatric surgical procedure indicated for various haematological and non-traumatic conditions. Understanding patient demographics, clinical characteristics, and surgical outcomes is essential to optimise management and improve care. OBJECTIVE: This study describes the indications, operative approaches, and early outcomes of paediatric splenectomy at the National Centre for Paediatric Surgery. METHODS: We conducted a single-centre, retrospective review of 47 paediatric patients who underwent splenectomy between 2019 and 2023. Data on demographics, clinical presentation, surgical details, and early postoperative outcomes were extracted from medical records. Descriptive and bivariate analyses were performed to evaluate associations between variables. RESULTS: This study included 24 males (51.1%) and 23 females (48.9%) with a mean age of 7.1 ± 3.3 years. The main indications were thalassaemia 48.9%, sickle cell disease 25.5%, and hereditary spherocytosis 17%. Pallor 38.3% and abdominal pain 29.8% were the most frequent presentations. All patients underwent open splenectomy, with a paramedian incision in 85.1% of cases. Intraoperative bleeding occurred in 4.3% of patients, and postoperative complications were minimal, with a single surgical site infection. Mean hospital stay was 5.2 ± 1.9 days. CONCLUSION: Pediatric splenectomy is safe and effective for haematological disorders, with low complication rates and rapid early recovery.