Laparoscopic splenectomy in children – а 25-years of experience

Abstract

Introduction. Currently, the most successful option for treating benign hematological diseases of the spleen in children is splenectomy. Material and methods. In the article, the authors present their 25-year clinical experience in performing laparoscopic splenectomy in children with various diseases of the spleen. They discuss different techniques for surgical treatment of spleen diseases, features of preoperative preparation, current literature data. Results. The accumulated experience in laparoscopic surgeries for spleen removal, application of modern electrosurgical equipment and instruments for extracting tissues from the abdominal cavity have significantly reduced surgical time, improved cosmetic outcomes and quality of life of patients in the postoperative period. Somatostatin, prescribed right before the surgery and at the early postoperative period, prevents development of pancreatitis and erosive bleeding from the stump of the spleen pedicle in the vast majority of patients. Conclusion. The obtained catamnestic data demonstrate that laparoscopic surgery for spleen removal has its advantages. It is a safe, little-traumatic, effective and cosmetically good option for surgical spleen management in children.