Laparoscopic ligation of splenic artery aneurysm

Efforts should be made to avoid splenectomy because host resistance is maintained by the spleen. We describe here a 50-year-old woman in whom laparoscopic ligation of a splenic artery aneurysm 3.0 cm in diameter was successfully performed, without major complications. Computed tomography performed 5 months later revealed no infarction in the spleen. For this patient with liver cirrhosis and cholelithiasis, laparoscopic cholecystectomy was performed at the same operation. Laparoscopic surgery is most feasible when the splenic artery is markedly tortuous and protrudes from the pancreas.