title: Robot-assisted partial and total splenectomy.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The interest of robotics in performing partial and total splenectomy is poorly reported so far. We report herein our experience.
  
  
  METHODS
  From November 2001 to November 2009, 24 consecutive robotic splenectomies were performed by the same surgeon. All data were prospectively collected and reviewed retrospectively.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Twelve men and 12 women with a median age of 48 years underwent a robotic splenectomy, three of which were partial splenectomies. The indications were: ABO incompatibility for kidney transplantation (n = 7), haematological disease (n = 7) and miscellaneous pathologies (n = 10). Mean operative time was 199 ± 65 min. Median blood loss was 75 (range 5-300) ml. There was one intraoperative complication and two conversions. The postoperative morbidity was 8.3% with no mortality. Median hospital stay was 5.5 days.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This series reports the safety and feasibility of robotic partial and total splenectomy. Its use as an alternative to the standard laparoscopic approach is particularly beneficial in more challenging cases.
authors.affiliation: Division of General, Minimally Invasive and Robotic Surgery, Department of Surgery, University of Illinois at Chicago, USA. piercg@uic.edu
authors.forename: Pier C
authors.initials: PC
authors.lastname: Giulianotti
authors.forename: Nicolas C
authors.initials: NC
authors.lastname: Buchs
authors.forename: Pietro
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Addeo
authors.forename: Subhashini
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Ayloo
authors.forename: Francesco M
authors.initials: FM
authors.lastname: Bianco
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D005240:Feasibility Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012371:Robotics / Q000379:methods*; D013154:Spleen / Q000601:surgery*; D013156:Splenectomy / Q000379:methods*; D013158:Splenic Diseases / Q000601:surgery*; D025321:Surgery, Computer-Assisted / Q000379:methods*; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D055815:Young Adult