Evaluation of technique for autotransplantation of the spleen in dogs

Preservation of the human spleen is important in the prevention of overwhelming sepsis, particularly in infants and immunosuppressed patients. When that preservation is not possible, due to disease or severe trauma, it has been suggested that autotransplantation of splenic tissue might provide adequate immunological protection. This study looked at the feasibility of autotransplantation via subcutaneous implantation in the dog. This method is important, since controlled intraabdominal splenosis is very difficult to achieve. The adverse effect of splenectomy, as well as the ineffectiveness of autotransplantation was demonstrated in providing demonstrable in vitro evidence of decreased sheep red blood cell immunization, even though the subcutaneous implantation itself was successful. From this study, the authors suspected, but could not prove, that the ineffectiveness of the splenic autotransplants was related to their lack of critical mass for good bacterial clearance from the blood stream and the fact that they did not lie within the main vascular channels, probably a criterion for proper clearance. The role of splenic preservation by autotransplantation needs to be evaluated in the immature host.