Splenectomy

(Open Laparoscopy)

Indication:

Splenic cysts/abscesses/tumors.
Spleen damaged because of certain auto-immune diseases.
Enlarged spleen / “Wandering spleen”.
Traumatic injury to and/or spontaneous rupture of the spleen.

Procedure:

This can be performed through laparoscopic (keyhole) or open approaches. Five incisions are made in your abdomen to insert the necessary instruments for spleen removal. The spleen must be dissected free from the stomach, colon, pancreas, and diaphragm. In a small number of patients (10%) it may not be possible to operate via the laparoscope due to adhesions from previous operations, bleeding obscuring vision, awkward fatty tissue, or other technical problems. It will then be necessary to revert to the open operation, where a cut is made below the ribs on the left side.

Possible complications:

The main surgical complication is significant bleeding. This occurs in less than 5% of patients. This can be life-threatening and may require urgent repeat surgery.
Other risks include bowel or splenic injury, bleeding, pancreatitis, delayed return of bowel function, wound infection, deep vein thrombosis, pulmonary emboli (a blood clot that blocks an artery in the lungs), the collapse of a lung, and pneumonia.
Late complications may occur such as persistent wound pain or a hernia at the site of the wound.

Duration:

N/A