Overwhelming postsplenectomy infection.

A characteristic case of overwhelming postsplenectomy infection in a previously healthy, 25-year-old man is presented. The patient progressed from influenza-like symptoms to irreversible septic shock and death within 24 hours. His spleen had been removed nine years earlier because of abdominal trauma. Aggressive therapy, including IV fluids, antibiotics, vasopressers, steroids, heparin, packed red blood cells, platelets, cryoprecipitates, and fresh frozen plasma, failed to alter the course of this fulminant septic syndrome. The cause, treatment, and certain prevention options are presented.