title: [Laparoscopic splenectomy in autoimmune thrombocytopenic purpura].
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To describe the perioperative characteristics, complications and outcome of the first 22 patients who underwent laparoscopic splenectomy for refractary/recurrent ITP in our institution.
  
  
  METHODS
  Clinical and biochemical characteristics, spleen size, indication for surgery, operative time, blood requirements, complications and outcome of 22 patients who underwent laparoscopic splenectomy between 1994 and 1997 were prospectively recorded. Their mean age was 40 +/- 15 (+/- SD), 15 females and 7 males.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The preoperative platelet count was 56 thousand +/- 58.7/uL, average spleen size 10.5 +/- 2 cm. The surgical time averaged 4.5 +/- 1 hours; accessory spleens were removed from two patients. Conversion to the open procedure was necessary in two cases. Complete response was achieved in 59%, partial response in 27%, and no response in 14% (none of these due to missed accessory spleens). Six patients developed complications. One of them died two days after surgery. The mean postoperative stay was 4.7 +/- 2.6 days.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The results of laparoscopic splenectomy were similar to our previous results with the open approach. The laparoscopic technique took longer in our hands but the postoperative stay was shorter.
authors.affiliation: Departamento de Cirugía, Instituto Nacional de la Nutrición Salvador Zubirán, México D.F.
authors.forename: M F
authors.initials: MF
authors.lastname: Herrera
authors.forename: R R
authors.initials: RR
authors.lastname: Lozano-Salazar
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Bezaury
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Césarman
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Hernández
authors.forename: S A
authors.initials: SA
authors.lastname: Sánchez
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Velázquez
authors.forename: X
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: López-Karpovitch
mesh_terms: D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D010535:Laparoscopy / Q000009:adverse effects; D008297:Male; D011446:Prospective Studies; D011696:Purpura, Thrombocytopenic / Q000601:surgery*; D012008:Recurrence; D013156:Splenectomy / Q000009:adverse effects; D016896:Treatment Outcome
vernacular_title: Esplenectomía laparoscópica en púrpura trombocitopénica autoinmune.