What is the procedure called for the surgical removal of the spleen?

The surgical removal of the spleen is called a splenectomy. This procedure may be necessary due to various medical conditions, including traumatic injury to the spleen, splenic tumors, or certain blood disorders that affect spleen function. The spleen plays a crucial role in filtering blood and managing the immune response, so its removal can have significant effects on a patient's health, necessitating careful evaluation prior to surgery.

The other procedures listed serve different purposes: a cholecystectomy involves the removal of the gallbladder, an appendectomy is the removal of the appendix, and a hepatectomy refers to the surgical resection of part of the liver. These names reflect the specific organs involved and their respective conditions that necessitate these surgical interventions.