title: Single-port laparoscopic splenectomy for idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura.
abstract: Laparoscopic splenectomy has been performed with an average of 4 trocars since the early 1990s, and it has become the gold standard for elective splenectomy. Recently, single-port laparoscopic (SPL) surgery has emerged as an alternative to multiport laparoscopy, but SPL splenectomy in a patient with idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura (ITP) has not been reported to date in Saudi Arabia or the region. A case report of SPL splenectomy in a patient with ITP is briefly described along with the surgical technique needed for such a procedure. The patient was an otherwise healthy 24-year-old female woman with medically refractory ITP and a platelet count of 2200. A standard splenectomy was performed using a SPL technique. The patient did well intraoperatively and postoperatively, was happy with her incision, and was discharged home with no complications 3 days after the procedure. In conclusion, SPL splenectomy is feasible in select patients and may provide a less painful, cosmetically better alternative.
authors: Department of Surgical Specialties, King Fahad Medical City, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. rafat_taher@yahoo.com
authors: Rafat
authors: R
authors: Taher
authors: Mansour
authors: M
authors: Tawfeeq
mesh_terms: D004351:Drug Resistance; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007430:Intraoperative Care / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods; D010535:Laparoscopy / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods; D010976:Platelet Count; D011184:Postoperative Period; D016553:Purpura, Thrombocytopenic, Idiopathic / Q000097:blood / Q000601:surgery*; D012529:Saudi Arabia; D013156:Splenectomy / Q000379:methods*; D013525:Surgical Instruments; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D055815:Young Adult