title: Predictive factors for platelet count after laparoscopic splenectomy in cirrhotic patients.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The purpose of our study was to investigate predictive factors for platelet count at 1 month after splenectomy in patients with liver cirrhosis.
  
  
  METHODS
  A total of 60 patients with liver cirrhosis who were treated with splenectomy from January 2005 to December 2006 were enrolled in the study (hepatitis C, n = 50; hepatitis B, n = 6; alcoholism, n = 2; others, n = 2). Various preoperative clinical characteristics, including spleen weight, were analyzed by simple and multiple linear regressions to study the relationship between platelet count before and after splenectomy.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Platelet count increased significantly after splenectomy. After simple linear regression, spleen weight, preoperative platelet count, lymphocyte count, and total bilirubin were significantly correlated with platelet count after splenectomy. Spleen weight, preoperative platelet count, and lymphocyte count also had a significant correlation after multiple linear regression analysis.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Platelet count after splenectomy in cirrhotic patients can be predicted on the basis of preoperative clinical characteristics. When selecting patients for splenectomy, spleen weight, preoperative platelet count, and lymphocyte count should be taken into consideration.
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery and Science, Graduate School of Medical Sciences, Kyushu University, Fukuoka, Japan. alfadai@pearl.ocn.ne.jp.|Department of Advanced Medicine and Innovative Technology, Kyushu University Hospital, Fukuoka, Japan. alfadai@pearl.ocn.ne.jp.|Department of Surgery, Fukuoka Teishin Hospital, 2-6-11 Yakuin, Chuo-ku, Fukuoka, 810-8798, Japan. alfadai@pearl.ocn.ne.jp.
authors.forename: Daisuke
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Yoshida
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery and Science, Graduate School of Medical Sciences, Kyushu University, Fukuoka, Japan.|Department of Advanced Medicine and Innovative Technology, Kyushu University Hospital, Fukuoka, Japan.
authors.forename: Yoshihiro
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Nagao
authors.affiliation: Department of Advanced Medicine and Innovative Technology, Kyushu University Hospital, Fukuoka, Japan.
authors.forename: Morimasa
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Tomikawa
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery and Science, Graduate School of Medical Sciences, Kyushu University, Fukuoka, Japan.
authors.forename: Hirofumi
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Kawanaka
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery and Science, Graduate School of Medical Sciences, Kyushu University, Fukuoka, Japan.
authors.forename: Tomohiko
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Akahoshi
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery and Science, Graduate School of Medical Sciences, Kyushu University, Fukuoka, Japan.
authors.forename: Nao
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Kinjo
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery and Science, Graduate School of Medical Sciences, Kyushu University, Fukuoka, Japan.
authors.forename: Hideo
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Uehara
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery and Science, Graduate School of Medical Sciences, Kyushu University, Fukuoka, Japan.
authors.forename: Naotaka
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Hashimoto
authors.affiliation: Department of Advanced Medicine and Innovative Technology, Kyushu University Hospital, Fukuoka, Japan.
authors.forename: Makoto
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Hashizume
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery and Science, Graduate School of Medical Sciences, Kyushu University, Fukuoka, Japan.
authors.forename: Yoshihiko
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Maehara