title: Laparoscopic splenectomy in the management of hematological diseases. Surgical technique and outcome of 17 patients.
abstract: After being successfully applied to other intraabdominal organs, the laparoscopic approach has been applied to the spleen since 1991. The experience with 17 cases of laparoscopic splenectomy performed due to immune thrombocytopenia purpura (10 instances), hereditary spherocytosis (2 cases), and Hodgkin's disease where the staging was done according to Standford (5 cases), have been reported. With the patient in anti-Trendelenburg position, and the surgeon between the patient's legs, four or five trocars are introduced into the upper abdominal quadrants and the spleen hilum is isolated. Hilar vessels are dissected and ligated with a surgical stapler. A plastic bag is introduced into the abdomen cavity and the spleen is slipped inside; it is then extracted through an umbilical incision after morcellation. Advantages of the open operation include a decrease in postoperative pain, a decrease in pulmonary sequelae, a reduced incidence of subphnic abscesses, and cosmetic advantages. The decrease of postoperative sequelae reduces hospitalization and costs, which are higher for the operation itself (materials and staff's training).
authors.affiliation: Department of General Surgery, University of Udine, School of Medicine, Italy.
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Terrosu
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Donini
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Silvestri
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Petri
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Anania
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Barillari
authors.forename: U
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Baccarani
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Risaliti
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Bresadola
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D016063:Blood Loss, Surgical; D005260:Female; D006402:Hematologic Diseases / Q000601:surgery*; D006689:Hodgkin Disease / Q000601:surgery; D006801:Humans; D010535:Laparoscopy; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011183:Postoperative Complications; D011696:Purpura, Thrombocytopenic / Q000601:surgery; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D013103:Spherocytosis, Hereditary / Q000601:surgery; D013156:Splenectomy / Q000379:methods*