Technique for Reduced Trocar Decapsulation of a Giant Nonparasitic Splenic Cyst

Minimally invasive surgery is adopted for patients presenting benign splenic cysts. Reduced port laparoscopy is an evolution of conventional laparoscopy, which can be applied for splenic cysts as well. In this video, a 3-trocar laparoscopic decapsulation of a giant nonparasitic splenic cyst is reported.

A 16-year-old man, without history of trauma or abdominal surgery, suddenly presented abdominal pain in the left hypochondrium, associated to fever and hyperleukocytosis. A thoracoabdominal computed tomography scan showed a giant cyst of the upper pole of the spleen; serum tumor markers carcinoembryonic antigen and carbohydrate antigen 19-9 were negatives. Any preoperative vaccine was prescribed.

Operative time was 130 minutes, and operative bleeding 10 mL. No additional trocar or conversion to laparotomy was necessary. Postoperatively, 4 g of paracetamol were used for 2 days, when the patient was discharged. Pathology confirmed the nonparasitic epidermoid splenic cyst. At 18 months, the patient is fine, without symptoms and without disease's recurrence.

Decapsulation of a giant nonparasitic splenic cyst is feasible to be performed by 3-trocar laparoscopy. This technique allows to improve the patient's comfort and the cosmetic results, to reduce the postoperative pain and to finally avoid a preoperative vaccine.