Laparoscopic staging of Hodgkin's disease

With recent advances in laparoscopy, specifically the development of laparoscopic splenectomy, a complete laparoscopic Hodgkin's staging procedure is now possible. Using five trocars and the patient in the right semidecubitus position, six laparoscopic staging procedures were performed. All were stages IIA or IIB pre-operatively, and none were upgraded to stage III or IV as a result of the procedure. Operative time was from 185-255 min. (mean 210 min.) There were no operative morbidities or mortalities associated with the procedure. We believe this procedure will be adopted by more surgeons as they become more comfortable in performing laparoscopic splenectomies.