American journal of surgery
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Although the preservation of splenic tissue may prevent overwhelming infection after splenectomy, the degree of protection conferred by small remnants has not been optimal. We investigated whether either splenic reticuloendothelial clearance of a blood flow-dependent colloid or macrophage and T-cell populations might be altered by resection or autotransplantation of the spleen. ⋯ Such clearance is dependent on spleen weight and is not related to differences in either macrophage or helper or suppressor T-cell populations. This suggests that autotransplantation of the spleen is inferior to preservation of even a small hilar remnant and implies that repair or partial resection of the spleen will provide greater protection than autotransplantation.