title: Laparoscopic versus open splenectomy for nontraumatic diseases.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Laparoscopic splenectomy (LS) is the standard procedure for normal size or moderately enlarged spleens; open splenectomy (OS) is preferred in cases of splenomegaly. In this study, indications for and complications of open and laparoscopic splenectomy were analyzed, with the aim to identify patients who will benefit from either technique.
  
  
  METHODS
  A consecutive series of 52 patients undergoing elective open or laparoscopic splenectomy between January 2001 and December 2006 was analyzed. Spleen volume was calculated as length x width x depth from the pathologist's measurements.
  
  
  RESULTS
  LS was performed in 25 patients with a median age of 41 years (range = 24-65). OS was performed in 27 patients with a median age of 60 years (range = 24-86) (p < 0.001). Conversion to OS was necessary in two patients (8%). Operation time was significantly shorter in LS (p < 0.05). Spleen volume was significantly greater in patients who underwent open (median = 2520 ml, range = 150-16,800 ml) versus laparoscopic (median = 648 ml, range = 150-4860 ml) splenectomy (p = 0.001). In 36% of all laparoscopic procedures, spleen volume exceeded 1000 ml. The underlying disease was mainly immunothrombocytopenia in LS patients and lymphoma and osteomyelofibrosis in OS patients. Five patients died after OS. Significantly more patients were hospitalized longer than 7 days following OS than following LS (p < 0.05). Overall complication rate was higher after OS (LS, 8; OS, 13 patients; p < 0.05).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  LS was preferred in younger patients with moderate splenomegaly, while massive splenomegaly mostly led to OS. In view of the absence of technique-related differences, LS can primarily be attempted in all patients.
authors.affiliation: Department of Visceral and Transplantation Surgery, University Hospital Zürich, Rämistrasse 100, 8091, Zürich, Switzerland.
authors.forename: Christine F
authors.initials: CF
authors.lastname: Maurus
authors.forename: Markus
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Schäfer
authors.forename: Markus K
authors.initials: MK
authors.lastname: Müller
authors.forename: Pierre-Alain
authors.initials: PA
authors.lastname: Clavien
authors.forename: Markus
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Weber