Outcomes of laparoscopic versus open splenectomy

Area of Science:

• Surgical Innovation
• Minimally Invasive Surgery
• Gastrointestinal Surgery

Background:

• Laparoscopic techniques are increasingly adopted in modern surgical practice.
• Laparoscopic splenectomy (LS) is the preferred method for elective removal of normal-sized spleens.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the outcomes of laparoscopic splenectomy (LS) at TOBB University of Economics and Technology (ETU) Hospital and Kecioren Training and Research Hospital.
• To compare LS with open splenectomy (OS) in terms of key clinical parameters.

Main Methods:

• A retrospective analysis of 135 splenectomy cases between January 2000 and July 2010.
• Comparison of 130 patients undergoing LS versus OS, evaluating age, gender, hospital stay, diet initiation, conversion rates, operation time, and wound infections.

Main Results:

• LS had a mean operation time of 132 minutes compared to 121 minutes for OS.
• Patients undergoing LS experienced shorter hospital stays (5.65 days vs. 9.17 days) and earlier diet initiation (1.21 days vs. 2.37 days).
• The conversion rate from LS to OS was 6.4%, with LS showing a trend towards lower wound infection rates (4.8% vs. 7.4%).

Conclusions:

• Laparoscopic splenectomy (LS) is a safe and effective alternative to open splenectomy (OS).
• LS is suitable for patients of all ages requiring splenic disease treatment.
• The study supports the widespread clinical acceptance and application of LS.