Surgical resection of traumatic spleen cysts by laparoscopy

Surgical resection of traumatic cysts by means of laparoscopy in two female patients is reported. The patients had sustained severe trauma in the left upper quadrant, were symptomatic and developed large splenic cysts found by computerized tomography, with an average diameter of 8.5 cm. Both patients were submitted to puncture and capsule removal by means of videolaparoscopy and diathermy; splenic parenchyma was preserved and the cyst's bed drained. No intra or postoperative complications occurred. After an average 21 months postoperative follow-up, both patients are symptom-free and no late recurrences were found on tomographic studies. The advantages of this technique over others that have been reported are the preservation of splenic parenchyma, its easy performance and efficient relief of symptoms, as well as being minimally invasive, associated with minimal postoperative pain, shorter length of hospital stay, and no early recurrences.