[Splenectomy under celioscopy]

Laparoscopic splenectomy has been extensively developed since its first description by Delaître in 1991. From May 1993 to July 1994, 12 patients underwent laparoscopic splenectomy in the "service de Chirurgie C" of the "CHU de Nancy". Six of them were successful. 6 women with a mean age of 27.7 years. The mean operating time was 2 h 30 min. For all cases, the indication was idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura. No mortality and no morbidity was reported. One patient needed a blood transfusion. The postoperative stay ranged from 3 to 7 days. Splenectomy appears to be another procedure that may be successfully performed under laparoscopic guidance with satisfactory conditions of safety. The outcome evaluation should be continued in order to accurately define the real advantages and risks of this new technique.