Laparoscopic-assisted Splenectomy Research Articles

Minimally invasive splenectomy is associated with a low perioperative complication rate and short operative time in cats.

To report the perioperative outcome and complications in cats undergoing minimally invasive splenectomy. 17 client-owned cats. Perioperative data were collected from cats undergoing minimally invasive splenectomy from September 2010 to June 2023. Data included history, signalment, preoperative examination and diagnostic testing results, operative technique and time, perioperative outcomes, complications, hospitalization duration, histopathological diagnosis, and outcome. 13 spayed females and 4 neutered males were included, with a median age of 144 months (48 to 196 months). Seven cats underwent total laparoscopic splenectomy (TLS), with 1 cat requiring conversion from TLS to laparoscopic-assisted splenectomy (LAS) due to splenomegaly and an additional cat requiring conversion from TLS to open splenectomy due to uncontrollable splenic capsular hemorrhage. Ten cats underwent LAS, with 1 cat requiring conversion to open splenectomy due to splenomegaly. Additional procedures were performed in 13 cats, with the most common being liver biopsy in 10 cats. Median operative times were 50 minutes (45 to 90 minutes) for TLS and 35 minutes (25 to 80 minutes) for LAS. An intraoperative complication occurred in 1 cat. All but 1 cat survived to discharge. Median follow-up time was 234 days (18 to 1,761 days), with 15 of 16 cats confirmed alive at 30 days and 9 of 16 cats alive at 180 days postoperatively. Minimally invasive splenectomy in this cohort of cats was associated with short operative times and a low perioperative complication rate. Veterinary surgeons may consider minimally invasive splenectomy as an efficient and feasible technique in the treatment of splenomegaly or modestly sized splenic masses for diagnostic and therapeutic purposes in cats.

Complications and outcomes associated with laparoscopic-assisted splenectomy in dogs.

To report the perioperative characteristics and outcomes of dogs undergoing laparoscopic-assisted splenectomy (LAS). 136 client-owned dogs. Multicentric retrospective study. Medical records of dogs undergoing LAS for treatment of naturally occurring splenic disease from January 1, 2014, to July 31, 2020, were reviewed. History, signalment, physical examination and preoperative diagnostic test results, procedural information, complications, duration of hospitalization, histopathologic diagnosis, and perioperative outcomes were recorded. Perioperative complications were defined using the Veterinary Cooperative Oncology Group - Common Terminology Criteria for Adverse Events (VCOG-CTCAE v2) guidelines. LAS was performed for treatment of a splenic mass (124/136 [91%]), immune-mediated disease (7/136 [5%]), splenomegaly (4/136 [3%]), or immune-mediated disease in conjunction with a splenic mass (1/136 [1%]). Median splenic mass size was 1.3 cm3/kg body weight. Conversion to open laparotomy occurred in 5.9% (8/136) of dogs. Complications occurred in 78 dogs, with all being grade 2 or lower. Median surgical time was 47 minutes, and median postoperative hospital stay was 28 hours. All but 1 dog survived to discharge, the exception being postoperative death due to a suspected portal vein thrombus. In the dogs of this report, LAS was associated with low rates of major complications, morbidity, and mortality when performed for a variety of splenic pathologies. Minimally invasive surgeons can consider the LAS technique to perform total splenectomy in dogs without hemoabdomen and with spleens with modest-sized splenic masses up to 55.2 cm3/kg, with minimal rates of complications, morbidity, and mortality.

Splenic sarcoid reaction mimicking metachronous metastasis in patients after distal gastrectomy for gastric cancer: a case report and literature review

BackgroundThe occurrence of sarcoid reactions has been recognized in various cancers. The common location for observing these granulomas is mainly the lymph nodes, but a rare occurrence in the spleen has been reported.Almost all splenic sarcoid reactions associated with gastric cancer have been resected synchronously and diagnosed accidentally, and a rare metachronous occurrence of a sarcoid reaction in the spleen after distal gastrectomy can mimic cancer metastasis. We describe a rare case of a splenic sarcoid reaction recognized in a patient with gastric cancer 6 months after distal gastrectomy.Case presentationAn 82-year-old man underwent laparoscopic distal gastrectomy for gastric cancer (T3N0M0, stage IIA). Six months after gastrectomy, CT and 18F-fluorodeoxyglucose (FDG)-PET/CT showed the appearance of a splenic mass. We diagnosed solitary splenic metastasis from gastric cancer and performed laparoscopic-assisted splenectomy. His splenic tumor was diagnosed as a sarcoid reaction by histopathological examination.ConclusionTo our knowledge, this is the first report of a splenic sarcoid reaction recognized 6 months after distal gastrectomy for gastric cancer without any chemotherapy. The splenic sarcoid reaction and cancer metastasis to the spleen were undistinguishable from the CT and FDG-PET/CT findings. The present case and literature review showed that cases of splenic sarcoid reactions associated with gastric cancer can also be accompanied by the occurrence of these granulomas in lymph nodes. When the appearance of a solitary mass is observed in the spleen after resection of primary cancer, it is necessary to consider not only cancer metastasis but also sarcoid reactions. Retrospective histopathological confirmation of the existence of sarcoid reactions in lymph nodes from resected specimens might possibly avoid incorrect diagnosis and intervention.

A Novel Technique for Safe Laparoscopic-Assisted Subtotal Splenectomy in Children with Hereditary Spherocytosis

Partial splenectomy has emerged as a surgical option for children with hereditary spherocytosis. The goal of reducing anemia and hypersplenism while preserving splenic immunologic function to avoid potential Overwhelming Post-Splenectomy Infection (OPSI) is logical.

Laparoscopic-assisted splenectomy in dogs: 18 cases (2012-2014).

To describe the operative technique and perioperative outcome for laparoscopic-assisted splenectomy (LAS) in dogs. Retrospective case series. 18 client-owned dogs. Medical records of dogs with naturally occurring disease of the spleen treated by means of LAS between 2012 and 2014 were reviewed. History, signalment, results of physical examination, results of preoperative diagnostic testing, details of surgical technique, intraoperative findings including results of abdominal exploration and staging, concurrent surgical procedures, complications, histopathologic diagnoses, duration of postoperative hospitalization, and perioperative outcome were recorded. The perioperative period was defined as the time from hospital admission for LAS until discharge or death (within the same visit). All dogs underwent initial abdominal exploration and staging via multiple 5-mm laparoscopic ports (n = 2) or a single commercially available multichannel port (16), followed by minilaparotomy with insertion of a wound retraction device, progressive exteriorization of the spleen, sealing of hilar vessels, and splenectomy. Splenectomy was performed for treatment of a splenic mass (n = 15), suspected neoplasia (2), or refractory immune-mediated disease (1). Median size (width × length) of splenic masses was 5 × 5 cm (range, 1.6 to 11.0 cm × 1.5 to 14.5 cm). Complications were limited to minor intraoperative hemorrhage in 1 dog; no patient required conversion to open laparotomy. Results indicated that LAS was technically feasible in dogs and not associated with major complications. Further evaluation is required; however, in appropriately selected patients, LAS may offer the benefits of a minimally invasive technique, including a smaller incision and improved illumination and magnification during exploration and staging.

Laparoscopic Splenectomy in Children with Sickle Cell Disease

Result: Fifty-one children had laparoscopic assisted splenectomy for either hypersplenism 42 (82.4%) or acute splenic sequestration 9 (17.6 %); 32 (63%) males and 19 (37%) females. The age range was 6 to 14 years, a mean age of 9.8. Only one (1.9%) case required conversion to open procedure due to excessive bleeding. Only 7 (13.7%) were admitted in the ICU following the procedure. The mean length of hospital stay was four days; the measured decrease in the HBS was 38%, preoperative fever was seen in 16 (31%), and there was no mortality. Conclusion: Laparoscopic splenectomy with a left inguinal incision is a safe and effective approach in children with SCD.

Incidence, Risk Factors, and Outcome of Portal Vein Thrombosis After Laparoscopic-Assisted Splenectomy in β-Thalassemia Patients: A Prospective Exploratory Study

Portal vein system thrombosis (PVT) is an infrequent but potentially serious complication after laparoscopic splenectomy. Patients with β-thalassemia are at higher risk as they have splenomegaly and hypercoagulability. Forty-eight β-thalassemia patients who underwent hand-assisted laparoscopic splenectomy or laparoscopic splenectomy were studied prospectively with pre- and postoperative Doppler ultrasonography or computed tomography scanning. The incidence of PVT was 8.3% (95% confidence interval [CI] 0.2%-16.4%) (4 of 48 patients). Spleen weight was the only independent factor associated with the presence of PVT. The odds ratio for spleen weight (100 g increase) was 1.46 (95% CI 1.10-1.94, P=.010). Receiver operator characteristic curve analysis showed that the optimal cutoff of spleen weight to the prediction of PVT was 1543 g. Thrombosis resolution was observed after a median of 165 days. Patients with β-thalassemia who undergo laparoscopic-assisted splenectomy are at high risk of postoperative PVT. Close postoperative surveillance and aggressive coagulation prophylaxis are needed in these patients. Larger studies are required to confirm the present findings.

Outcome of laparoscopic splenectomy with preoperative splenic artery embolization for massive splenomegaly

Laparoscopic splenectomy (LS) has become a safe and feasible procedure for cases involving spleens of normal size. Only a few publications report on the outcome of LS with preoperative splenic artery embolization (SAE) for massive splenomegaly. The authors present their experience in patients with massive splenomegaly who underwent laparoscopic-assisted splenectomy (LAS) or hand-assisted laparoscopic splenectomy (HALS) following SAE. A retrospective review of patients with massive splenomegaly undergoing LAS or HALS after preoperative SAE during the years 2004 to 2006 at the authors' institution was performed. Patients with a craniocaudal spleen length of 20 cm or greater were included in the study irrespective of their primary diagnosis. The data collected included information on patient demographics, operative details, rates of conversion to open procedures, perioperative blood transfusions, and postoperative complications. Routine Doppler ultrasound of the abdomen was performed on postoperative days 7 and 30 to screen for portal vein thrombosis (PVT). A total of 19 patients were identified. The median spleen length was 23 cm, and the median spleen weight was 1,740 g. Nine patients underwent LAS, and 10 underwent HALS. The median operative time was 130 min, and the median hospital stay was 6 days. There were no conversions to open laparotomy. The median estimated blood loss was 200 ml. One patient required reoperation 24 h after LAS due to bleeding, and PVT developed in three patients postoperatively. In the setting of massive splenomegaly, LAS or HALS with preoperative SAE is safe and has a low conversion rate. Postoperative imaging surveillance for PVT should be performed routinely in this patient population.

Importance of Early Splenectomy in Patients with Hepatosplenic T-Cell Lymphoma and Severe Thrombocytopenia

T-cell lymphomas (TCLs) classically have a poorer response to therapy when compared with B-cell lymphomas and account for only 10-15% of all lymphoid malignancies. Hepatosplenic TCLs are a rare subset of this group that usually present with hepatosplenomegaly, B-symptoms, and only rarely with lymphadenopathy. This disease process, also known as gamma/delta (gamma/delta) TCL because of the expression of the T-cell receptor gamma/delta chain, tends to present in young male patients. Hepatosplenic TCLs have recently gained notoriety because of the realization that patients with long-term treatment of some immunomodulators can develop this potentially fatal disease. These facts are exacerbated by the fact that patients with this disease rarely enjoy remissions of more than brief duration with common chemotherapeutic agents or bone marrow transplants. A novel agent, pralatrexate, has recently been found to have a dramatic activity in this patient population with refractory/relapsed disease. Unfortunately, patients with hepatosplenic TCL often present with thrombocytopenia and this new agent is contraindicated in these patients because of the potential exacerbation of thrombocytopenia with this agent. Because of this we attempted a laparoscopic-assisted splenectomy in one patient with grade 4 thrombocytopenia. Postoperatively the patient's thrombocytopenia resolved, permitting him to begin treatment with this potentially life-saving agent. Due to the lethality of this disease and potential efficacy of new therapies, we believe splenectomy should be considered in patients with hepatosplenic lymphoma in an effort to improve the treatment options and survival of patients with this challenging disease.

Port site tumor recurrence rates in a murine model of laparoscopic splenectomy decreased with increased experience.

The etiology of port site tumor recurrences following laparoscopic surgery for cancer remains unknown. A recent study from our laboratory using a murine splenic tumor model suggests that it is poor surgical technique (i.e., crushing of the tumor) rather than the CO2 pneumoperitoneum that is responsible for these tumors. However, in that experiment, no intraabdominal procedure was carried out. We subsequently performed a preliminary study in which we compared the rate of port site tumor recurrences after laparoscopic-assisted splenectomy (LAS) vs open splenectomy (OS) using the murine splenic tumor model. In this study, we found significantly more port and incisional tumors after laparoscopic splenectomy. The reasons for this finding are unclear. Further analysis of the data showed that the incidence of port tumors in the LAS group decreased dramatically from the first to the second trial, suggesting that the experience of the surgeon may play a role. The purpose of the current study was to carry out further trials to determine if the lower rate of port tumor recurrence in the laparoscopic group will persist with increased surgical experience. Splenic tumors were established in female Balb/C mice (n = 128) via a subcapsular injection of a 0.1-cc suspension containing 10(5) C-26 colon adenocarcinoma cells via a left flank incision at the initial procedure. Seven days later, the animals with isolated splenic tumors (95%) were randomized to one of two groups-open splenectomy (OS) or laparoscopic-assisted splenectomy (LAS). Three ports were placed in similar locations in all animals. The OS mice underwent an open splenectomy via a subcostal incision and anesthesia for 20 min. The LAS mice underwent laparoscopic mobilization of the spleen using a three-port technique, followed by an extracorporeal splenectomy via a subcostal incision. Seven days after splenectomy, the mice were killed and inspected for abdominal wall tumor implants. The experiment was carried out in four separate trials. When the results of the four trials were combined, there was no significant difference in the incidence of animals with at least one port tumor recurrence between the OS vs the LAS group (25% vs 35.2%; p = 0.30, power = 0.91). However, the overall incidence of port site tumors (number of ports with tumors/total number of ports for each group) was significantly higher in the laparoscopic-assisted group than in the open group (18.5% vs 9.5%; p = 0.03). It was noted that the incidence of port tumor recurrence (PTR) in the LAS group dropped significantly from the first to the latter three trials (second, third, and fourth trials combined) (36.1% vs 13.5%; p < 0.006) while it did not change significantly in the OS group. In the latter three trials, there was no significant difference in the number of animals with PTR between the LAS and the OS group (13.5% vs 9.8%; p = 0.43). Overall, there was no significant difference between the OS and the LAS groups in number of animals with port tumor recurrence or subcostal wound tumor recurrence. However, there were more port tumors in the laparoscopic-assisted group. The reasons for these findings are unclear. The laparoscopic mobilization was quite difficult; it required excessive splenic manipulation, which may have liberated tumor cells from the primary lesion and facilitated port tumor formation. With increased experience, less manipulation was required to complete the mobilization. Of note, the incidence of port tumors in the LAS group decreased significantly from the first to the subsequent three trials; therefore, it is possible that surgical technique is a factor in port tumor formation. The CO2 pneumoperitoneum may also be a factor, but this seems less likely.

Peritoneal irrigation with povidone-iodine solution after laparoscopic-assisted splenectomy significantly decreases port-tumor recurrence in a murine model.

The development of port-wound tumor recurrences has raised questions regarding the safety of laparoscopic methods for the resection of malignancies. The cause and the incidence of abdominal-wall tumor recurrences remain unknown. It is also not clear how to avoid or lower the incidence of port-tumor recurrences. The purpose of the current study was to determine the impact of abdominal irrigation with povidone-iodine on the port-wound tumor incidence in a murine model. A splenic tumor model was used for this study. To establish splenic tumors, female BALB/c mice (N = 48) were given subcapsular splenic injections of a 0.1 ml suspension containing 10(5) C-26 colon adenocarcinoma cells via a left-flank incision at the initial procedure. Seven days later, the animals with isolated splenic tumors (100 percent) were randomly assigned to one of three groups: 1) control, 2) saline irrigation (saline), or 3) povidone-iodine irrigation. All animals underwent laparoscopic mobilization of the spleen using a three-port technique, intra-abdominal crushing of the tumor, followed by an extracorporeal splenectomy via a subcostal incision. No irrigation was performed for control group animals. In the saline irrigation group, the subcostal incision was closed and pneumoperitoneum was re-established. The abdominal cavity was irrigated with 5 ml of normal saline for 60 seconds before instrument removal. In the povidone-iodine irrigation group, similar abdominal irrigation was performed, using 0.25 percent povidone-iodine. Attempts were made to recover completely the irrigation for both irrigation groups. Seven days after the splenectomy, animals were killed and inspected for abdominal-wall tumor implants. There were significantly more animals with at least one port-tumor recurrence in the control group than in the povidone-iodine group (P = 0.007). Although not statistically significant, the number of animals with port-wound tumors was higher in the saline group than in the povidone-iodine group (P < 0.08). There was no significant difference between the saline group and the control group. When each port site was considered independently, the incidence of port-wound tumors (number of ports with tumors per total number of ports) was significantly lower in the povidone-iodine group than in both the control (P = 0.00001) and saline groups (P = 0.03). The incidence of port-wound tumors was also significantly lower in the saline group compared with the control group incidence (P = 0.03). Abdominal irrigation with dilute povidone-iodine solution significantly reduced the number of animals with port-tumor recurrences. Abdominal irrigation with saline was also effective in reducing the incidence of port-wound tumor formation when each port was considered separately. However, povidone-iodine irrigation was much more effective than saline irrigation in preventing port-wound tumor formation.

Abdominal wound tumor recurrence after open and laparoscopic-assisted splenectomy in a murine model.

The cause of abdominal wall tumor recurrences after laparoscopic surgery for cancer remains unknown. A recent study from our laboratory using a murine splenic tumor model suggests that poor surgical technique (i.e., crushing of the tumor) and not the CO2 pneumoperitoneum is responsible for port wound tumors. However, in that experiment no actual laparoscopic procedure or manipulation was performed. The purpose of the current study was to determine the rate of abdominal wound tumors after laparoscopic-assisted splenectomy performed via a CO2 pneumoperitoneum vs. open splenectomy using the mouse splenic tumor model. To establish splenic tumors, female BALB/c mice (N=72) were given subcapsular splenic injections of a 0.1-ml suspension containing 10(5) C-26 colon adenocarcinoma cells via a left flank incision at the initial procedure. Eight days later, animals were randomized into one of two groups: 1) laparoscopic-assisted splenectomy, or 2) open splenectomy. Laparoscopic-assisted splenectomy animals had three laparoscopic ports placed and then underwent laparoscopic mobilization of the spleen under a CO2 pneumoperitoneum followed by extracorporeal splenectomy via a subcostal incision. Group 2 animals underwent open splenectomy via a subcostal incision after three port incisions were made in the same locations as for laparoscopic-assisted splenectomy mice. The incision was closed after 20 minutes in both groups. Ten days later, the mice were killed and inspected for abdominal wall tumor implants. The experiment was performed via two separate trials. When results of the two trials were combined, there was no significant difference in the incidence of animals in each group with at least 1 port tumor (open, 21 percent; laparoscopic-assisted splenectomy, 33 percent; P=0.14). However, the overall incidence of port site tumors (number of ports with tumors/total number of ports for each group) was significantly higher in the laparoscopic-assisted splenectomy group than in the open group (20 vs. 7 percent; P=0.01). The subcostal incisional tumor recurrence rate was also higher in the laparoscopic-assisted splenectomy group (50 vs. 21 percent; P=0.02). as was the perioperative mortality rate (21 vs. 7 percent; P=0.08). Results of the two individual trials were also considered separately. The incidence of port wound tumors decreased significantly from the first to the second laparoscopic-assisted splenectomy trial (36 vs. 9 percent; P=0.003), although the incidence of tumors at the subcostal incision and the mortality rate for the two laparoscopic-assisted splenectomy group trials were not significantly different. The open group tumor incidences did not change from trial to trial. Overall, significantly more port and incisional tumors were noted in the laparoscopic-assisted group. Although not statistically significant, mortality rate of the laparoscopic-assisted group was higher than the open group. The reasons for these findings are unclear. Laparoscopic mobilization was quite difficult and required excessive splenic manipulation, which may have liberated tumor cells from the primary tumor and facilitated port tumor formation. With increased experience, less manipulation was required to complete mobilization. Of note, the incidence of port tumors in the laparoscopic-assisted splenectomy group decreased significantly from the first to the second trials; therefore, it is possible that surgical technique is a factor in port tumor formation. However, the persistently high tumor incidence at the subcostal incision site argues against the hypothesis that the second trial's laparoscopic mobilizations were less traumatic. The CO2 pneumoperitoneum may also be a factor. Further studies are warranted to clarify these issues.

Laparoscopic-assisted splenectomy using a hand-access port

SummaryAdvanced laparoscopic procedures, such as laparoscopic splenectomy (LS) are well described, but are generally not used outside units with a special interest in laparoscopic surgery. This particularly applies to LS, because of difficulties controlling the splenic pedicle and removing the spleen when completing the procedure. We describe five prospective cases of laparoscopic-assisted splenectomy (LAS) for idiopathic thrombocytopaenic purpura (ITP), using a new, specialised port which allows repeated insertion and removal of the surgeon's hand into the abdomen without loss of pneumoperitoneum. Spleens were removed intact through the hand-access port. No patient developed any respiratory or other complications. Oral fluids were tolerated at a mean of 1.0 ± 0.0 days and oral diet was tolerated at 1.4 ± 0.5 days post-operatively. Patients were discharged from hospital 3.2 ± 1.9 days post-operatively. LAS appears to offer the benefits of minimal hospital stay and analgesia requirements which have previously been associated with LS. Additional benefits, in comparison with LS, include increased tactile and retractile ability, easier control of the splenic pedicle, removal of an intact specimen for histological analysis and possibly easier location of ectopic splenic tissue. This novel device may facilitate minimally-invasive splenectomy outside specialised laparoscopic units.

Laparoscopic Assisted Hemisplenectomy for a Splenic Hemangioma

Laparoscopic assisted splenectomy has been used in the treatment of patients with massive splenomegaly, but to date there have been no reports of laparoscopic assisted hemisplenectomy. We describe a case of a 10-year-old male who underwent a laparoscopic assisted hemisplenectomy for a symptomatic splenic hemangioma. The laparoscopic assisted procedure allowed for the fully mobilized and partially devascularized spleen to be delivered through a small abdominal incision for division. The laparoscopic assisted hemisplenectomy avoids the need for the larger standard open splenectomy incision resulting in less postoperative pain, a more rapid recovery, and a superior cosmetic result.

Initiating advanced laparoscopic surgery in a medical college hospital with basic laparoscopic set up: Is it feasible and safe?

Laparoscopic surgery involves performing surgery through small incisions in abdominal wall to get access. Primary goal of this procedure is to achieve good cosmetic outcome, reduced post operative pain, early recovery and reduced hospital admission. The main objective of this study is to see the feasibility and benefit of performing advance laparoscopic surgery in a place where basic laparoscopic surgery is done and to share my experience while performing it. A retrospective study of case sheets and discharge summary from 1st May 2008 till 1st August 2009 was done. Altogether eight patients underwent different advanced laparoscopic procedure. Cases done for the fi rst time in the institute and those done by himself were only included. Technical feasibility, use of devices like harmonic scalpel, need for incision extension, operative time, blood product requirement, ambulation and enteral feed, post operative hospital stay and patients satisfaction regarding minimal scars were assessed. Total eight patients underwent advance laparoscopic surgery. There were two common bile duct (CBD) exploration of which one was transcystic exploration, one total laparoscopic abdominoperineal resection (APR) for rectal cancer, one laparoscopic assisted right hemicolectomy for carcinoma ceacum, one laparoscopic assisted sigmoid colectomy for recurrent sigmoid volvulus, two laparoscopic right nephrectomy for non functioning right kidney, one retroperitoneal pyelolithotomy and one laparoscopic assisted splenectomy for massive splenomegaly with haemolytic anaemia. All procedures were technically feasible with basic laparoscopic instruments. However harmonic scalpel was required for splenectomy due to difficult hilum dissection. Ureteroscope was used as a choledochoscope in CBD exploration. Blood transfusion was required only in patient with low preoperative haemoglobin. Early ambulation and enteral feed was done within 24 hours in all and within 48 hours in patients who had bowel anastomosis. Post operative hospital stay was 5-8 days. Cosmetic scar was appreciated by all. Although long term oncological outcome is yet to come in malignancy case, biopsy report of laparoscopic APR identified 13 nodes which shows complete nodal dissection on oncological principal basis. Advanced laparoscopy is feasible, safe and effective in the hand of surgeons performing basic laparoscopic surgeries with guidance from surgeons who have long experience on same procedures but by open method.