Esplenectomía laparoscópica por enfermedades hematológicas en niños. Análisis de 11 años / Laparoscopic splenectomy in hematologic diseases in children. Analysis of 11-year experience

Introducción. Una indicación frecuente de esplenectomía en niños son las enfermedades hematológicas. Se muestran las indicaciones, curso clínico y complicaciones en niños con esplenectomía laparoscópica y se analizan los factores de conversión a cirugía abierta. Material y métodos. Estudio de cohorte, longitudinal, descriptivo de esplenectomía laparoscópica en un periodo de 11 años y su seguimiento a largo plazo. Resultados. Se analizaron 88 esplenectomías laparoscópicas. Edad promedio 9 años y peso 30 kg. La indicación fue anemia hemolítica en el 77% y púrpura trombocitopénica en el 18%. El 11% se operó con trombocitopenia grave y dos pacientes en forma urgente, se hizo colecistectomía en el 13%. La mediana de tiempo quirúrgico fue de 180 minutos con sangrado de 100 ml. Se convirtió el 5,7% por sangrado persistente, siendo los factores de riesgo el sangrado mayor a 300 ml y la necesidad de transfusión de concentrado eritrocitario. La mediana de estancia fue 3 días, superior en los pacientes afectos de púrpura. Tres pacientes desarrollaron neumonía y uno, absceso intra-abdominal. El seguimiento promedio es de 3,6 años con dos complicaciones tardías. Hubo curación con normalización del hemograma y sin necesidad de transfusiones en el 72%, mejoría con necesidad de transfusiones ocasionales en el 11,3% y fallo con requerimientos transfusionales iguales a los preoperatorios en el 6,8% de los pacientes. Discusión. Es posible operar a pacientes menores de 5 años y a pacientes con anemia o trombocitopenia en el momento de la cirugía, sin mayor complicación. La tasa de reconversión es baja y los factores de riesgo para reconversión son un sangrado mayor de 300 ml y la necesidad de transfundir concentrado de hematíes

Objectives. A common indication for splenectomy in children is hematologic diseases. Indications, clinical course and complications of laparoscopic splenectomy are shown; factors associated with open conversion are analyzed. Methods. Retrospective, longitudinal, descriptive series of laparoscopic splenectomy during 11 years and its long-term follow-up. Results. We studied 88 laparoscopic splenectomies. Average age was 9 years and weight 30 kg. The indication was hemolytic anemia in 77% and thrombocytopenic purpura in 18%. Eleven percent was operated with severe thrombocytopenia and two patients urgently; cholecystectomy was done in 13%. The median surgical time was 180 minutes and bleeding 100 ml. Conversion rate was 5.7% mainly because of persistent bleeding, being risk bleeding greater than 300 ml and the need for red cell concentrate transfusion. The median length of stay was 3 days, longer in those affected by purpura. Three patients developed pneumonia and one, intra-abdominal abscess. Follow-up was 3.6 years average with two late complications. Treatment response was cure in 72%, improvement in 11.3% and failure in 6.8%.Discussion. It is feasible to operate patients under 5 years of age and patients with anemia or thrombocytopenia at the time of surgery without major problems. The conversion rate is low and risk factors for conversion are bleeding more than 300 ml and needing to transfuse erythrocyte concentrate

Robotic single-access splenectomy using the Da Vinci Single-Site® platform: a case report.

BACKGROUND: Single-access laparoscopic splenectomy can offer patients some advantages. It has many difficulties, such as instrument clashing, lack of triangulation, odd angles and lack of space. The Da Vinci Single-Site® robotic surgery platform could decrease these difficulties. We present a case of single-access robotic splenectomy using this device. METHODS: A 37 year-old female with idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura was operated on with a single-site approach, using the Da Vinci Single-Site robotic surgery device. RESULTS: The procedure was successfully completed in 140 min. No intraoperative and postoperative complications occurred. The patient was discharged from hospital on day 3. CONCLUSIONS: Single-access robotic splenectomy seems to be feasible and safe using the new robotic single-access platform, which seems to overcome certain limits of previous robotic or conventional single-access laparoscopy. We think that additional studies should also be performed to explore the real cost-effectiveness of the platform.

Splenectomy during pregnancy: treatment of refractory immune thrombocytopenic purpura.

Immune thrombocytopenic purpura (ITP) complicates 1-2/10 000 pregnancies and accounts for 5% of cases of pregnancy-associated thrombocytopenia. Corticosteroids and intravenous immunoglobulin remain the first-line therapy in pregnancy, and a majority of pregnant women respond to this conventional therapy. Other cytotoxic and immunosuppressive agents used for treatment in non-pregnant patients, for example, danazol, cyclophosphamide, vinca alkaloids and azathioprine, are potential teratogens and cannot be administered during pregnancy. For pregnant women with ITP who fail to respond to medical management and are at a significant risk of haemorrhage due to thrombocytopenia, splenectomy may be considered as an option. We report two cases of splenectomy during pregnancy for refractory ITP. In one patient, it was carried out at 24 weeks, and in the second patient it was carried out during the caesarean section. Splenectomy as a second-line option in cases of refractory severe ITP in pregnancy is discussed.

Stapleless laparoscopic splenectomy using harmonic scalpel by 2-step sealing.

Laparoscopic splenectomy (LS) has been accepted as a safe and effective procedure as compared with open splenectomy. Recently, there have been a few reports on the LigaSure vessel sealing system as an alternative hemostasis to clip ligation. Here we report the experience of LS using an alternative energy device, Harmonic Scalpel laparoscopic coagulating shears (LCS). Preliminary experience of LS with LCS for a patient with idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura (ITP) is reported. Generally, two-step sealing with LCS was used for vessels of the splenic pedicle approximately 5 mm in diameter without using the Endo-GIA stapler. Operative time was 93 minutes, and blood loss was 40 mL. The patient was discharged on the third postoperative day with no intraoperative or postoperative complications. The LS with LCS was performed safely using two-step sealing. Further experience is necessary to verify the safety of this procedure.

Managing uncontrolled postsplenectomy reactive thrombocytosis in idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura: role of thrombocytapheresis.

Reactive thrombocytosis occurs in response to infection, trauma, or surgery. Splenectomy alone accounts for 19% of all possible causes of extreme thrombocytosis. We performed thrombocytapheresis in a young lady with chronic idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura (ITP) who developed postsplenectomy reactive thrombocytosis. Her post splenectomy platelet count was 227 × 10(6)/ml which elevated to 1623 × 10(6)/ml on the 7th postoperative day. A single thrombocytapheresis procedure reduced her platelet to 403 × 10(6)/ml. She was discharged on the 10th postoperative day and then maintained a count of 204-238 × 10(6)/ml with aspirin. Thrombocytapheresis reduces the platelet count rapidly in thrombocytosis and prevents patients from having thrombotic events. However, such procedures should be performed very meticulously to ensure patient safety.

Bilateral nephrectomy for the treatment of refractory lupus nephritis with features overlapping with thrombotic microangiopathy resembling thrombotic thrombocytopenia purpura.

We report a patient with a diagnosis of systemic lupus erythematosus who concurrently developed a syndrome of thrombotic microangiopathy that resembled thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura. The patient underwent plasma exchange and immunosuppressive therapy for months before clinical improvement was finally achieved through bilateral nephrectomy. Ultimately, our patient died of disseminated aspergillosis from prolonged immunosuppression. We believe that recognition of bilateral nephrectomy as a potential treatment earlier in her course would have spared her this unfortunate demise. We hope that this review of current literature will help the reader to consider bilateral nephrectomy in patients with refractory systemic lupus erythematosus with clinical overlap of thrombotic microangiopathy resembling thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura.

Laparoscopic versus open splenectomy in the treatment of idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura: an Indian experience.

UNLABELLED: Laparoscopic splenectomy (LS) is emerging as the treatment of choice over open splenectomy (OS) in cases of idiopathic (immune) thrombocytopenic purpura (ITP) that is either steroid resistant or steroid unresponsive.The aim of the present study is to compare therapeutic response and outcome of patients with ITP undergoing LS with a similar group undergoing OS.The study was performed on 63 patients with ITP attending Medical College and Hospital, Kolkata, a tertiary level referral centre in Eastern India during 2005-2009.Twenty-seven patients with ITP underwent LS and the rest underwent OS. Twenty-eight patients were steroid resistant whereas the rest were diagnosed to be refractory to steroids. Parameters assessed were demographic characteristics of patients, peri-operative data, complications and haematological outcome.The patients were followed up for a mean period of 40 months. RESULTS: Demographic characteristics of the patients in LS and OS group were comparable. Patients undergoing LS were found to require a longer operative time but had lower intra-operative blood loss, less postoperative pain, decreased incidence of complications, reduced hospital stay and comparable haematological response as compared to that for patients undergoing OS. LS for ITP is a safe technique associated with lower morbidity and faster convalescence and similar haematological response when compared to OS.

Tratamiento farmacol¨®gico preoperatorio de dos pacientes trombop¨¦nicos para intervenci¨®n neuroquir¨²rgica / Pharmacologic treatment for 2 thrombocytopenic patients prior to neurosurgery

El tratamiento y la profilaxis de la hemorragia del paciente con trombopenia o con alteraciones de la funci¨®n plaquetaria son controvertidos. El recuento plaquetario se correlaciona parcialmente con el riesgo hemorr¨¢gico. Existen factores de riesgo hemorr¨¢gico que deben ser evaluados y tratados antes de decidir el tratamiento perioperatorio. El 13% de los pacientes cirr¨®ticos tienen un recuento de plaquertas entre 50.000-75.000/¦ÌL, siendo la trombopenia de origen multifactorial. La p¨²rpura trombop¨¦nica idiop¨¢tica, PTI, es una enfermedad adquirida bien de forma primaria o secundaria a otras enfermedades, siendo la evoluci¨®n y el tratamiento de ambas formas bastante diferente. No hay m¨¦todos cl¨ªnicos que predigan el riesgo de hemorragia perioperatoria en pacientes con trombopenia. Se presentan dos casos de pacientes con trombopenia programados para cirug¨ªa intracraneal, tratados con factores de crecimiento de la trombopoyesis. En ambos casos se consigui¨® un recuento plaquetar acorde al tipo de intervenci¨®n. Se necesitan ensayos cl¨ªnicos controlados que determinen la seguridad, la utilidad profil¨¢ctica de la transfusi¨®n de plaquetas y de los an¨¢logos de la trombopoyetina en algunas situaciones refractarias de trombopenia(AU)

Preoperative prophylaxis of hemorrhage for patients with thrombocytopenia or a platelet disorder is controversial. Platelet count correlates to a certain degree with risk of hemorrhage, and risk factors for hemorrhage should be assessed and treated before deciding on perioperative treatments. Thirteen percent of cirrhotic patients have a platelet count between 50 000 and 75 000/¦ÌL and thrombocytopenia is multifactorial in origin. Idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura is an acquired disease; since it may be either primary or secondary to other conditions, treatment may vary considerably. No clinical method has been established for predicting risk of perioperative bleeding in patients with thrombocytopenia. We describe 2 thrombocytopenic patients scheduled for intracranial surgery who were treated with thrombopoietic growth factors; in both cases, platelet counts increased sufficiently for this type of surgery. Controlled clinical trials are needed to ascertain the safety and prophylactic utility of platelet transfusion and thrombopoietin analogs in certain situations of refractory thrombocytopenia(AU)

Single-access transumbilical laparoscopic splenectomy using curved reusable instruments.

BACKGROUND: The authors report a single-access transumbilical laparoscopic splenectomy (SATLS) performed with curved reusable instruments. METHODS: A 23-year-old female consulted for steroid-resistant idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura and clinical evidence of secondary Cushing syndrome. Preoperative workup showed a normal-sized spleen and thrombocytopenia. The umbilicus was incised and a purse-string suture was applied. A reusable 11-mm trocar was inserted for a 10-mm, 30° angled scope. Curved reusable instruments (Karl Storz-Endoskope, Tuttlingen, Germany) were advanced without trocars transumbilically. After opening the splenocolic and gastrosplenic ligaments, the main splenic artery and vein were dissected off at the level of the hilum, clipped with 5-mm clips introduced transumbilically, and sectioned. Posterior splenic attachments were freed at the hilum cranially and caudally. The spleen was finally retrieved transumbilically in a plastic bag. RESULTS: Addition of supplementary trocars or incisions was not necessary. Operative time was 180 min and final umbilical scar 16 mm. The patient was discharged on postoperative day 3, and after 6 months she was doing well. CONCLUSIONS: SATLS was feasible and safe to be performed using curved reusable instruments. The curves of the instruments permitted the surgeon to work in an ergonomic position, without the instruments clashing thanks to the obtained triangulation. Since only reusable instruments were used, the cost of SATLS remained similar to that of standard laparoscopy.

Predicting response to splenectomy in children with immune thrombocytopenic purpura.

PURPOSE: Predicting the response to splenectomy in children with immune thrombocytopenic purpura (ITP) continues to be a clinical challenge. The purpose of this study is to identify preoperative predictors of outcome for splenectomy in children with ITP. METHODS: The charts of 19 children who underwent splenectomy for ITP were retrospectively reviewed. Platelet responses to treatment are categorized as complete response (CR, > or =150,000/microL), partial response (PR, > or =50,000 but <150,000/microL), or nonresponse (NR, <50,000/microL). RESULTS: After splenectomy, 13 patients (68%) had CR, 3 (16%) had PR, and 3 (16%) had NR. No correlation existed between CR to splenectomy and any of the following: age, platelet count at diagnosis, last platelet count before splenectomy, platelet count on postoperative day 1, or responses to preoperative intravenous immunoglobulin, WinRho, or Rituximab. However, all 7 patients who had NR to a full course of steroids subsequently had CR to splenectomy. Nonresponse to steroid therapy was directly correlated with CR to splenectomy (P = .01, Fisher's Exact test). Furthermore, postsplenectomy platelet counts were inversely related to peak platelet response to steroids (correlation coefficient = -0.68, P = .01). CONCLUSIONS: Preoperative responsiveness to steroid therapy, as measured by peak platelet count, predicts NR to splenectomy for ITP in children, whereas NR to steroid therapy is highly correlated with CR to splenectomy. These findings challenge the widely held notion that steroid responsiveness portends a favorable outcome after splenectomy.

Recurrent hypersplenism caused by giant accessory spleen due to portal hypertension after splenectomia.

Splenectomy is one of the primary choices of treatment in immune thrombocytopenic purpura. However, the disease may relapse despite splenectomy. One of the leading causes of relapse is the presence of accessory spleen, which may become enlarged significantly with underlying pathologies such as presence of portal hypertension. The accessory spleen, which will inevitably enlarge in time, may grow significantly within a short period of time in the presence of portal hypertension and may thus be misdiagnosed as a tumoral mass. Presence of ectopic spleen should be borne in mind in patients diagnosed with immune thrombocytopenic purpura with relapsing hypersplenism following splenectomy. This article discusses a patient developing portal hypertension secondary to chronic liver disease and presenting with a significantly enlarged accessory spleen as well as hypersplenism findings.

Laparoscopic accessory splenectomy for recurrent idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura.

BACKGROUND: Splenectomy has 50% to 70% long-term efficacy for immune thrombocytopenic purpura (ITP). In some patients, relapse is due to the presence of residual accessory splenic tissue. METHODS: A 44-year-old male had ITP since 1983 with splenectomy in 1985. He had a transient response, but then developed severe thrombocytopenia refractory to multiple modalities for 20 years. An accessory spleen was first visualized in 2000. RESULTS: A laparoscopic accessory splenectomy was performed without difficulty. The patient had an initial response with a significant increase in platelet count. Although over time the thrombocytopenia recurred, there has been a long-term benefit in that the patient is on much lower doses of prednisone to maintain an adequate platelet count. CONCLUSION: The finding of accessory splenic tissue after prior splenectomy may be an increasingly common problem in patients with recurrent ITP. Although reported response rates for resection of residual splenic tissue vary, the availability of a safe, less morbid, minimally invasive approach makes the decision to operate easier.

Percutaneous treatment of portal vein thrombosis in a child who has undergone splenectomy.

Thrombosis of the portal venous system is a well-recognized and potentially lethal complication after open or laparoscopic splenectomy. A 7-year-old girl with idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura developed a portal vein thrombosis after open splenectomy. The portal vein thrombosis was diagnosed by color Doppler sonography. A percutaneous transhepatic thromboaspiration of the acute thrombus was done on the third postoperative day. Anticoagulation was continued for 6 months. The presented patient is the youngest patient to undergo percutaneous thromboaspiration of an acute thrombus via the transhepatic route. Percutaneous thromboaspiration via the transhepatic route is an effective means of treating a portal vein thrombosis.

Immune thrombocytopenic purpura.

Immune thrombocytopenic purpura (ITP) is the commonest cause of sudden onset thrombocytopenia in a healthy child. The condition is frequently preceded by a viral infection. The hematological parameters are essentially normal except a low platelet count. Bone marrow examination is not routinely indicated except in specific situations. The pros and cons of drug treatment have been discussed as the disease is benign with excellent prognosis in majority of the cases. The various treatment options including low and high dose steroids, intravenous immunoglobulins and anti D have been discussed at length with other modalities of treatment and role of splenectomy. Current therapeutic options with rituximab and other drugs for stimulating platelet production in chronic cases have also been included in discussion.

Preoperative embolization of the splenic artery in patients that underwent splenectomy for immune thrombocytopenic purpura

Transfusion of platelets, red blood cells, or both is usually necessary immediately after splenic artery ligature in patients with immune thrombocytopenic purpura who undergo splenectomy. PURPOSE: To investigate whether preoperative embolization of the splenic artery reduced the need for transfusion of platelets, red blood cells, or both. METHODS: Twenty- seven consecutive patients that underwent splenectomy for purpura between October 1999 and March 2006 performed by the same surgical team were enrolled. The first 17 patients did not undergo embolization and were compared with the next 10 patients, who composed the embolization group. RESULTS: The platelet count in the embolization group rose from a mean 7000 u/µl before to 75000 u/µl after the procedure. There was no need for platelet or red blood cell transfusion in the embolization group; in the group without preoperative embolization, 11 patients (p=0.001) required platelet transfusion and 8 (p=0.01), red blood cell transfusion. CONCLUSION: Embolization of the splenic artery before splenectomy is a safe method to avoid blood transfusions in patients with ITP.

A transfusão de plaquetas e ou hemácias geralmente é realizada em pacientes submetidos a esplenectomia por Purpura Trombocitopênia Imune (PTI). OBJETIVO: Investigar se a embolização pré-operatória da artéria esplênica é eficaz na redução da necessidade de transfusão de hemácias ou plaquetas. MÉTODOS: Vinte e sete pacientes foram submetidos a esplenectomia por PTI de Outubro de 1999 a Março de 2006 pela mesma equipe cirúrgica. Os primeiros 17 pacientes não foram submetidos a embolização e foram comparados com os outros 10 individuos nos quais a embolização foi realizada. RESULTADOS: A contagem de plaquetas no grupo em que a embolização foi realizada subiu de uma média de 7000u/µl antes do procedimento, para 75000 u/µl após. Não foi necessário transfundir plaquetas ou glóbulos vermelhos no grupo submetido a embolização comparado com 11 pacientes com transfusão de plaquetas (p=0,001) e 8 pacientes com transfusão de hemácias (p=0,01) no grupo sem embolização pré-operatória. CONCLUSÃO: A embolização pré-operatória da artéria esplênica é um método seguro e eficaz para evitar o uso de transfusões em esplenectomias por PTI.

Preoperative embolization of the splenic artery in patients that underwent splenectomy for immune thrombocytopenic purpura.

UNLABELLED: Transfusion of platelets, red blood cells, or both is usually necessary immediately after splenic artery ligature in patients with immune thrombocytopenic purpura who undergo splenectomy. PURPOSE: To investigate whether preoperative embolization of the splenic artery reduced the need for transfusion of platelets, red blood cells, or both. METHODS: Twenty- seven consecutive patients that underwent splenectomy for purpura between October 1999 and March 2006 performed by the same surgical team were enrolled. The first 17 patients did not undergo embolization and were compared with the next 10 patients, who composed the embolization group. RESULTS: The platelet count in the embolization group rose from a mean 7000 u/microl before to 75000 u/microl after the procedure. There was no need for platelet or red blood cell transfusion in the embolization group; in the group without preoperative embolization, 11 patients (p=0.001) required platelet transfusion and 8 (p=0.01), red blood cell transfusion. CONCLUSION: Embolization of the splenic artery before splenectomy is a safe method to avoid blood transfusions in patients with ITP.

Results of laparoscopic splenectomy for immune thrombocytopenic purpura.

OBJECTIVE: To study the safety and efficacy of Laparoscopic Splenectomy (LS) for Immune Thrombocytopenic Purpura (ITP). MATERIAL AND METHOD: Twenty-five consecutive adult patients with chronic ITP who did not achieve sustained remission or refractory to medical treatment underwent elective LS between March 1995 and July 2005. The perioperative course was documented and the follow up data were recorded. RESULTS: All 25 patients underwent successful LS by a single surgeon. Twenty patients were available to analyze with a median follow-up time of 739 days (range, 18-3,555). The mean age was 29.8 years (range, 15-44) and 17 patients were female. The median preoperative platetlet count was 16,500/microL (range, 2,000-180,000). Accessory Spleens (AS) were removed in three patients (15%). A female patient died 24 days after LS from fungal brain abscesses. Fifteen patients (75%) had platelet count > 100,000/microL at initial response. Thirteen patients (65%) are in Complete Remission (CR) (platelet count > 100,000/microL). The probability of staying in CR after LS was 60.2% by Kaplan-Meier analysis. All failures occurred within 218 days of the operation. The mean age of the patients with CR was 27.2 years (range, 15-43) while the mean age of the nonCR was 34.7 years (range, 21-44). CONCLUSION: LS should be considered as a safe and effective therapy when elective splenectomy is indicated for chronic ITP patients.

Predictive factors for successful laparoscopic splenectomy in immune thrombocytopenic purpura: study of clinical and laboratory data.

BACKGROUND: Laparoscopic splenectomy (LS) offers better short-term results than open surgery for the treatment of immune thrombocytopenic purpura (ITP), but long-term follow-up is required to ensure its efficacy. The remission rate after splenectomy ranges from 49 to 86% and the factors that predict a successful response to surgical management have not been clearly defined. The goal of this study was to determine the preoperative factors that predict a successful outcome following LS. METHODS: From February 1993 to December 2003, LS was consecutively performed in a series of 119 nonselected patients diagnosed with ITP (34 men and 85 women; mean age, 41 years), and clinical results were prospectively recorded. Postoperative follow-up was based on clinical records, follow-up data provided by the referring hematologist, and a phone interview with the patient and/or relative. Univariate and multivariate analyses were performed for clinical preoperative variables to identify predictive factors of success following LS. RESULTS: Over a mean period of 33 months, 103 patients (84%) were available for follow-up with a remission rate of 89% (92 patients, 77 with complete remission with platelet count > 150,000). Eleven patients did not respond to surgery (platelet count < 50,000). Mortality during follow-up was 2.5% (two cases not related to hematological pathology and one case without response to splenectomy). Preoperative clinical variables evaluated to identify predictive factors of response to surgery were sex, age, treatment (corticoids alone or associated with Ig or chemotherapy), other immune pathology, duration of disease, and preoperative platelet count. In a subgroup of 52 patients, we also evaluated the type of autoantibodies and corticoid doses required to maintain a platelet count > 50,000. Multivariate analysis showed that none of the variables evaluated could be considered as predictive factors of response to LS due to the high standard error. CONCLUSION: Long-term clinical results show that LS is a safe and effective therapy for ITP. However, a higher number of nonresponders is needed to determine which variables predict response to LS for ITP.

Laparoscopic splenectomy: a selected retrospective review.

Previous investigators have suggested that laparoscopic splenectomy should be the procedure of choice for the treatment of benign hematologic disorders unresponsive to medical therapy. To evaluate the safety and utility of laparoscopic splenectomy for a variety of splenic disorders, we reviewed our collective experience at 2 institutions. We studied our 8-year experience by retrospective chart review. Patient demographic data, splenic pathology, intraoperative events, concomitant procedures, and all adverse perioperative events were recorded. A total of 131 patients had laparoscopic splenectomy, and there were 8 conversions to open surgery. Pathology included 63 with idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura (ITP), 23 malignancies, 12 thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura (TTP), 10 autoimmune hemolytic anemia (AIHA), and 23 others. Accessory spleens were noted in 21 patients (16%). Concomitant surgical procedures included 12 hepatic biopsies, 4 distal pancreatectomies, 4 cholecystectomies, and 7 others. Mean operative time was 170 minutes. There were 16 major complications in 16 patients and 2 deaths. Median postoperative length of stay was 3 days. Conversions, due mostly to bleeding, are related to splenic pathology and medical comorbidity and are not temporally related to surgical experience (learning curve). The morbidity, mortality, and conversion rates were low. Laparoscopic splenectomy permits an appropriate abdominal exploration and is associated with a short hospital stay. It is the procedure of choice for most indications for splenectomy.