Laparoscopic partial vs total splenectomy in children with hereditary spherocytosis

Open partial splenectomy provides reversal of anemia and relief of symptomatic splenomegaly while theoretically retaining splenic immune function for hereditary spherocytosis. We recently developed a laparoscopic approach for partial splenectomy. The purpose of the present study is to compare the outcomes in a group of patients undergoing laparoscopic partial splenectomy (LPS) with those in a group of children undergoing laparoscopic total splenectomy (LTS) over the same period.

Systematic chart review was conducted of all children with hereditary spherocytosis who had LTS or LPS from 2000 to 2006 at the Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, Ontario, Canada. T tests were used for continuous data, and chi(2) for proportional data; P value of less than .05 was considered significant.

There were 9 patients (14 males) in each group. Groups were similar in sex, age, concomitant cholecystectomy, and preoperative hospitalizations, transfusions, and spleen size. Estimated blood loss was greater in the LPS group (188 + 53 vs 67 + 17 mL; P = .02), but transfusion requirements were similar (1/9 vs 0/9). Complication rate was similar between groups. The LPS group had higher morphine use (4.1 + 0.6 vs 2.4 + 0.2 days; P = .03), greater time to oral intake (4.4 + 0.7 vs 2.0 + 0.2 days; P = .01), and longer hospital stay (6.3 + 1.0 vs 2.7 + 0.3 days; P = .005) than the LTS group. Nuclear scan 6 to 8 weeks postoperatively demonstrated residual perfused splenic tissue in all LPS patients. No completion splenectomy was necessary after a mean follow-up of 25 months.

These data suggest that LPS is as effective as LTS for control of symptoms. However, LPS is associated with more pain, longer time to oral intake, and longer hospital stay. These disadvantages may be balanced by retained splenic immune function, but further studies are required to assess long-term splenic function in these patients.