title: Laparoscopic splenectomy for idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura.
abstract: We conducted a retrospective multicenter study by questionnaire to evaluate the results of laparoscopic splenectomy for idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura (ITP). Between 1991 and 1998, 209 patients with a mean age of 41.2 years (range, 10-83) had a laparoscopic splenectomy for idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura. Preoperatively, 178 patients (85%) underwent medical treatment aimed at achieving a satisfactory platelet count. Twenty-nine patients were obese, with a body mass index greater than 30%, and 14% were HIV-seropositive. The so-called hanging spleen technique in the right lateral decubitus position was used most often. The average duration of surgery was 144 minutes (45-360). This was significantly longer in cases of conversion (170 minutes; P < 0.01). The factors influencing the duration of laparoscopy were operator experience and patient obesity (P < 0.01). A conversion was necessary in 36 cases (17.2%) because of hemorrhage. The conversion rate varied from 5.3% to 46.7%, depending on the surgical team. A multivariate analysis of factors disposing to conversion identified two causes: obesity and operator experience. One or more accessory spleens were found in 34 patients (16.2%). The average weight of the spleens was 194.2 g. There were no deaths. There were no complications in 187 patients (89.5%), with a mean hospital stay of 6.1 days. Patients who did not require a conversion had a significantly earlier return of intestinal transit, used less analgesic, and had a shorter length of hospitalization. Overall morbidity was 10.5% (22 cases), due to subphrenic collections (7 cases), abdominal wall complications (6 cases), re-intervention for actual or suspected hemorrhage or pancreatitis (3 cases), pneumopathology (2 cases) and others (4 cases). A multivariate analysis about morbidity shows a statistically significant difference in conversions (P < 0.05) but not in obesity or in surgeon's experience. Normal activity was achieved on average by the twentieth postoperative day--earlier if conversion was not required (18.4 versus 33.9 days). The average preoperative platelet count was 92.7 x 10(9)/L (range, 3 to 444). Twenty patients had a count of less than 30 x 10(9)/L and in this group the conversion rate was 30% (6 cases). Ninety-six patients were seen in the outpatient clinic, with an average follow-up time of 16.2 months (3 to 72 months), and the average platelet count was 242 x 10(9)/L (6 to 780). Eight patients (8.3%) were failures with a platelet count of <30 x 10(9)/L. In the 20 patients with a preoperative platelet count <30 x 10(9)/L, there were 3 early failures and 5 late relapses. There were 2 late deaths: chest infection at 3 months in an HIV seropositive patient and one case of pulmonary embolus at 6 months. Laparoscopic splenectomy constitutes a real alternative to conventional splenectomy for the treatment of idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura. It is associated with fewer postoperative complications, a shorter duration of hospitalization and an earlier return to normal activity. The limiting factors are the experience of the operator and patient obesity. The long-term results are identical to those of conventional splenectomy, with a better than average success rate in patients that have failed preoperative medical treatment.
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery, Cochin Hospital, Paris, France. bernard.delaitre@cch.ap-hop-paris.fr
authors.forename: Bernard
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Delaitre
authors.forename: Eric
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Blezel
authors.forename: Guy
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Samama
authors.forename: Christophe
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Barrat
authors.forename: Dominique
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Gossot
authors.forename: Laurent
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Bresler
authors.forename: Christian
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Meyer
authors.forename: Bernard
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Heyd
authors.forename: Denis
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Collet
authors.forename: Gérard
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Champault
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D002648:Child; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D010535:Laparoscopy; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015999:Multivariate Analysis; D010976:Platelet Count; D016553:Purpura, Thrombocytopenic, Idiopathic / Q000601:surgery*; D013154:Spleen / Q000002:abnormalities; D013156:Splenectomy / Q000379:methods*; D016896:Treatment Outcome