Elective laparoscopic splenectomy for hematologic disorders

Laparoscopic splenectomy has been reported to be the procedure of choice in selected patients with hematologic disorders. The purpose of this study is to review our experience with laparoscopic splenectomy in this patient population. The charts of all patients with hematologic disorders who presented for laparoscopic splenectomy over a 17-month period were reviewed. Fifteen patients, nine males and six females, aged 12 to 80 years (mean, 49 years) presented for laparoscopic splenectomy. Surgical indications included 13 cases of idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura and one each of hemolytic anemia and Hodgkin's disease. Splenectomy was performed utilizing a four- or five-puncture laparoscopic technique. For completed laparoscopic splenectomies, the mean operative time was 129 minutes, and the mean estimated blood loss was 232 cc. Mean splenic weight was 210 g. There were no operative deaths. There was a single intraoperative complication, a 1700-cc hemorrhage, and two postoperative complications: pneumonitis and deep venous thrombosis. Overall morbidity was 20 per cent. A single patient (7%) required conversion to laparotomy for completion due to hemorrhage. For patients completed laparoscopically, the mean hospitalization was 1.5 days, and none required parenteral narcotics for pain control after the first 36 hours. Laparoscopic splenectomy for patients with hematologic disorders is a safe and technically feasible procedure. Decreased hospitalization and discomfort are the primary benefits. This technique should be added to the repertoire of surgeons treating patients with hematologic disorders.