Laparoscopic partial splenectomy of benign tumors assisted by microwave ablation

The aim of this study is to investigate the application and the feasibility of microwave ablation in laparoscopic partial splenectomy.

From January 2018 to June 2019, four patients with benign spleen lesions in our hospital underwent laparoscopic partial splenectomy assisted by microwave ablation. The reviewed parameters included the operation time, intraoperative blood loss, ablation time, frequency of ablation, postoperative drainage time, postoperative hospitalization time, and postoperative complications.

All four patients underwent laparoscopic partial splenectomy assisted by microwave ablation successfully, and there were no cases of conversion to laparotomy. The operation time was 100-200 min (mean, 152.5 min) and ablation time was 16-35 min (mean, 22.8 min). The frequency of ablation was 4-7 times (mean, 5.3 times), and the intraoperative blood loss was 5-300 ml (mean, 138.8 ml). The postoperative drainage time was 3-5 d (mean, 3.3 d), and postoperative hospital stay was 3-9 d (mean, 7.8 d). There were no complications such as peripheral tissue injury, massive bleeding, infestation of spleen fossa, and pancreatic leakage.

Microwave ablation is worthy of clinical application in laparoscopic partial spleen resection as it is safe and effective with low rates of bleeding and fast recovery.