[Laparoscopic splenectomy for idiopathic thrombocytopenia].
OBJECTIVE
Splenectomy is of great benefit for patients with idiopathic thrombocytopenia (ITP), when medical therapy has failed. It was the aim of this retrospective study to evaluate the results of laparoscopic splenectomy.


METHODS
All patients with ITP, who had a laparoscopic splenectomy between 1992 and 1999, were included in this study.


RESULTS
53 patients with an average age of 41.8 years had a laparoscopic splenectomy: 48 of these operations were finished laparoscopically, while conversion to the open technique was necessary in five patients. The mean operation time was 95 minutes. In the last 38 cases it was 76 minutes. There were no deaths and no reoperations were necessary. The average postoperative hospital stay was 3.9 days. After a mean follow-up of 24 (1-75) months thrombocytopenia recurred in eight patients, of whom five received medical therapy.


CONCLUSIONS
Splenectomy can be easily performed laparoscopically in patients with ITP and has a low morbidity. The results of therapy of ITP are good. Because of the quick convalescence the patients' comfort is better than with the conventional operation.
Zornig
C
C
Abteilung für Chirurgie, Israelitisches Krankenhaus, Hamburg.
Emmermann
A
A
Hegewisch-Becker
S
S
Peiper
M
M
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D005069:Evaluation Studies as Topic; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D010535:Laparoscopy; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010976:Platelet Count; D012008:Recurrence; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D013156:Splenectomy / Q000379:methods*; D013921:Thrombocytopenia / Q000601:surgery*; D013997:Time Factors