The spleen develops from mesenchymal cells in the fifth week of gestation and is located in the left upper abdomen. It is covered by peritoneum except at the hilum and measures approximately 7-12 cm long. The spleen filters blood and removes old red blood cells, recycles iron, and stores blood. Splenectomy may be performed to treat traumatic spleen injuries, hypersplenism, hematologic disorders, vascular diseases of the spleen, cysts/abscesses/tumors, for diagnostic purposes, and during other surgical procedures. The most common reasons for splenectomy are hematologic disorders, trauma, and neoplastic diseases of the spleen.