Laparoscopy splenectomy for massive splenomegaly.

OBJECTIVE

This study is aimed to evaluate the feasibility of laparoscopic splenectomy (LS) for massive splenomegaly in patients with hypersplenism secondary to portal hypertension and liver cirrhosis.

METHOD

A retrospective study of adult patients was conducted for splenectomy occurring from January 2006 to December 2010. We have performed the surgical procedures of splenectomy in 80 patients who were suffering from splenomegaly or hypersplenism secondary to portal hypertension and liver cirrhosis, among whom 40 patients underwent LS and another 40 patients received open surgery (OS).

RESULTS

Among the patients who had undergone LS, 2 patients were converted to OS and the other 38 patients underwent complete LS. The operation time, intraoperative blood loss, and the length of stay in LS group and OS group were 100-200 min (mean: 150 ± 30 min) vs. 120-210 min (mean: 100 ± 30 min), 50-1,000 ml (mean: 150 ± 110 ml) vs. 60-900 ml (mean: 140 ± 50 ml) and 4-9 days (mean: 6.1 ± 2.2 days) vs. 8-14 days (mean: 11.3 ± 2.3 days), respectively. No deaths occurred in the two groups, and there are no significant differences between the two groups in terms of estimated blood loss, complications, length of stay, and operating time.

CONCLUSION

LS for treatment of massive splenomegaly is a feasible, effective, and safe surgical technique. Hypersplenism secondary to portal hypertension and liver cirrhosis are not supposed to be considered absolute contraindications to LS.