title: Laparoscopic splenectomy at caesarean section.
abstract: The role of minimally invasive surgery continues to expand in all the specialties and subspecialties of surgery. At one time, obesity and pregnancy were considered a relative contraindication to laparoscopic surgery. With improved technology and skills, surgeons are able to operate on patients who were once considered to be at too high a risk for laparoscopic surgery. Herein, laparoscopic splenectomy performed at the time of Caesarean section is reported. This case demonstrates the safety and efficacy of laparoscopic splenectomy in a morbidly obese female in the immediate postpartum time.
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery, East Carolina University, Greenville, North Carolina, USA.
authors.forename: B A
authors.initials: BA
authors.lastname: Hoey
authors.forename: W H
authors.initials: WH
authors.lastname: Chapman
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D002585:Cesarean Section; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D010535:Laparoscopy / Q000379:methods*; D008297:Male; D009767:Obesity, Morbid / Q000150:complications; D011247:Pregnancy; D011250:Pregnancy Complications, Hematologic / Q000601:surgery; D016553:Purpura, Thrombocytopenic, Idiopathic / Q000150:complications / Q000601:surgery; D013156:Splenectomy / Q000379:methods*