Splenectomy when performed by laparoscopy is associated with less morbidity compared to open surgery. It also has a cosmetic advantage due smaller wounds. The case discussion illustrates the anatomical landmarks and relationships during laparoscopic splenectomy.

BACKGROUND Lymphoreticular tissue is the most important site for human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) replication in HIV-infected individuals. OBJECTIVE To compare the long-term effect of splenectomy on survival and time to development of acquired immunodeficiency syndrome in subjects who had undergone splenectomy with subjects who had not undergone splenectomy. DESIGN A cohort study with a f...

Splenomegaly and pancytopenia are common in Wilson's disease (WD) and splenectomy is one of the conventional treatments for splenomegaly and the associated pancytopenia. However, splenectomy remained controversial for hypersplenism in WD as it was reported that splenectomy leaded to serious emotional and neurological deterioration in WD patients with hypersplenism. In the current study, we pres...

BACKGROUND The long-term outcomes of adult patients with immune thrombocytopenic purpura (ITP) after splenectomy are not clear. METHODS We retrospectively analyzed 31 patients who underwent splenectomy after diagnosis of ITP at our institution between 1990 and 2009. Long-term follow-up was defined as a follow-up that lasted 1 year or more from splenectomy to the last follow-up. RESULTS The ...

OBJECTIVE Response to intravenous immunoglobulin (IVIG) has been shown to predict response to splenectomy in adults with immune thrombocytopenic purpura (ITP). However, reports in children have been inconsistent. We sought to determine whether response to IVIG is predictive of response to splenectomy in children. METHODS Thirty-two assessable children were identified by a retrospective chart ...

Introduction Thalassemia is a common disease which treatment is often based on splenectomy. The risks associated with total splenectomy stimulated partial splenectomy as a potentially alternative therapy. Case presentation A 45 year-old female patient with long term follow-up for β thalassemia intermedia started to develop signs of hypersplenism and iron overload. A partial splenectomy was pe...

BACKGROUND Laparoscopic splenectomy is being performed more commonly in children, although its advantages are not clear. We sought to determine whether laparoscopic splenectomy was superior to open splenectomy. METHODS The records of all pediatric patients undergoing splenectomy without significant comorbidities over a 12-year period were examined. The patients were divided into those undergo...

BACKGROUND Several authors advocate spleen preserving distal pancreatectomy, because of the increased complication rate after splenectomy. METHODS Postoperative complications and survival after distal and total pancreatectomy, were recorded and retrospectively analyzed according to spleen preservation. Patients, who underwent distal and total pancreatectomy without histologically proven adeno...