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Laparoscopic splenectomy: single‐centre experience of a district general hospital
Author(s) -
; Bernard,
Rhodes,
Mark D. Turner,
Wimperis,
; Deane
Publication year - 1999
Publication title -
british journal of haematology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.907
H-Index - 186
eISSN - 1365-2141
pISSN - 0007-1048
DOI - 10.1046/j.1365-2141.1999.01657.x
Subject(s) - laparotomy , medicine , splenectomy , surgery , laparoscopy , hematology , general surgery , spleen
We report the results of 20 consecutive laparoscopic splenectomies performed on haematology patients for a number of indications. Our series includes patients up to 77 years of age at the time of surgery and removal of spleens weighing up to 3530 g. The most significant benefit is the early rate of discharge post‐operatively (median 2 d); however, there is a risk of conversion to open laparotomy (in this series 3/20, 15%). We show that laparoscopic splenectomy can be offered as a therapeutic option to patients unfit for conventional laparotomy and that even large and bulky spleens can be removed safely using this approach.