[Conservative surgery of the spleen]

Conservative surgery of the spleen only has to overcome certain prejudices to become generally accepted. Today, we are convinced of the essential role of the spleen in the body's anti-infection defence mechanisms and the surgeon now has the means to repair a damaged spleen. We report the simplicity, effectiveness and reliability of three techniques of splenorraphy. Two of these techniques are our own and have been well tested in very extensive animal experiments and in our first clinical applications. Capsular sutures or partial splenectomy can treat the great majority of the lesions seen. When this is not possible, devascularisation of the spleen or autotransplantation of the splenic tissue are simple palliative measures, although there functional value has not been clearly established. The results of this approach are now numerous with adequate follow-up and have revealed no complications, immediate or delayed, inherent in the technique.