BACKGROUND: Laparoscopic splenectomy was attempted in 17 consecutive patients and was successful in 15. STUDY DESIGN: This study is a critical analysis of the operative strategy in laparoscopic splenectomy, as reviewed in the operative video recordings and operative summaries of the 17 patients discussed. RESULTS: The 15 successful laparoscopic splenectomies were all conducted according to the same strategy: mobilization of both the upper and lower pole of the spleen, division of the short gastric vessels close to the spleen, and dissection and separate ligation of the main trunk of the splenic artery and vein. An erroneous strategy that diverged from the one proposed, resulted in parenchymatous hemorrhage and open conversion in two patients. CONCLUSIONS: In this series of 15 successful laparoscopic splenectomies, the most important technical aspect seems to be full mobilization of the spleen before the hilum is dissected.
BACKGROUND: Laparoscopic splenectomy was attempted in 17 consecutive patients and was successful in 15. STUDY DESIGN: This study is a critical analysis of the operative strategy in laparoscopic splenectomy, as reviewed in the operative video recordings and operative summaries of the 17 patients discussed. RESULTS: The 15 successful laparoscopic splenectomies were all conducted according to the same strategy: mobilization of both the upper and lower pole of the spleen, division of the short gastric vessels close to the spleen, and dissection and separate ligation of the main trunk of the splenic artery and vein. An erroneous strategy that diverged from the one proposed, resulted in parenchymatous hemorrhage and open conversion in two patients. CONCLUSIONS: In this series of 15 successful laparoscopic splenectomies, the most important technical aspect seems to be full mobilization of the spleen before the hilum is dissected.