In the 25 years since the first reported laparoscopic splenectomy (LS)(1) developments in information exchange, technology and healthcare provision have influenced the implementation of LS.. An increasing focus on outcomes and cost in healthcare requires a more rigorous assessment of minimally invasive techniques beyond simple demonstration of technical feasibility. Although there is an increas...

BACKGROUND New agents are being used as second-line treatment for immune thrombocytopenia (ITP) and have brought into question the relevance of splenectomy for steroid-resistant ITP. METHODS We retrospectively analysed 73 patients who underwent splenectomy for ITP at our institution over an 11-year period. The median follow-up period was 25 months; patients with follow-up of <1 month were ...

CONTEXT Overwhelming post-splenectomy sepsis is defined as septicaemia and/or meningitis, usually fulminant, occurring days to several years after removal of the spleen. We report a case of a fulminant pneumococcal sepsis with a fatal outcome, occurring 11 years after distal pancreatectomy and splenectomy for pancreatic adenocarcinoma. CASE REPORT A 58-year-old woman presented to the emergenc...

Idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura (ITP) is an autoimmune disorder characterized by accelerated destruction of platelets due to the presence of platelet (Plt) auto antibodies and impaired production of platelets. Splenectomy is still the standard salvage therapy in cases refractory to corticosteroid therapy. Retrospectively we analyzed 34 patients with ITP that underwent splenectomy in the per...