Behind The Knife: The Surgery Podcast Behind the Knife ABSITE 2026 - Spleen
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Dec 12, 2025 Joined by clinical co-hosts John and Kevin, both surgical clinicians, the discussion dives deep into splenic anatomy and pathology. They unpack everything from the crucial splenic ligaments to the blood supply and the unique roles of red and white pulp. The team also tackles indications for splenectomy, trauma management, and fascinating pathologies like hereditary spherocytosis and pyruvate kinase deficiency. They highlight the importance of post-splenectomy care and the management of splenic tumors, ensuring listeners are well-prepared for the ABSITE.
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Key Splenic Attachments
- The spleen's main surgical attachments are gastrosplenic, splenorenal, splenocolic, and splenophrenic ligaments.
- Short gastrics, splenic vessels, and the pancreatic tail run in these ligaments and matter during surgery.
Splenic Vascular Anatomy Matters
- The splenic artery runs tortuously along the pancreas' superior border; the splenic vein runs posterior to the pancreas.
- Short gastric vessels can preserve splenic function after splenic artery embolization.
Red vs White Pulp Functions
- Red pulp filters red blood cells; white pulp handles immune functions.
- The spleen stores platelets, performs pitting, and is the body's largest lymphoid tissue concentration.
