Laparoscopic splenectomy for chronic recurrent thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura

Thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura (TTP) is a serious hematologic disorder with a high rate of morbidity and mortality when it fails to go into remission. The primary treatment is total plasma exchange. The addition of corticosteroids, chemotherapeutic agents, or antiplatelet agents is of unproven benefit, and splenectomy has been offered as salvage therapy in refractory cases. We performed laparoscopic splenectomy (LS) on two patients with chronic refractory TTP. The early and late postoperative courses, including hematologic data, are presented here. The mean duration of surgery was 113 minutes and the mean estimated blood loss was 35 mL. Mean hospital stay was 1.5 days. The early postoperative platelet count showed an immediate rise in both patients. After 19 months and 16 months of follow-up, respectively, both patients remain in remission without further episodes of TTP. Laparoscopic splenectomy is a safe and effective therapy for patients with chronic relapsing and refractory TTP. The inherent benefits of the minimally invasive approach, its low morbidity, short hospital stay, and faster recovery, are significant advantages for these patients.