Laparoscopic splenectomy is a safe and effective procedure for patients with splenomegaly due to portal hypertension.

BACKGROUND/PURPOSE: This study was conducted retrospectively to examine whether laparoscopic splenectomy is an effective procedure for patients with splenomegaly due to portal hypertension in comparison to patients with a normal-sized spleen.

METHODS

From September 1994 to May 2005, we performed laparoscopic splenectomy in 50 patients at Wakayama Medical University Hospital, Japan. Of these, 17 patients with splenomegaly due to portal hypertension and 17 patients with idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura (ITP) with normal-size spleen were enrolled in this study, in which we compared the surgical outcome between patients with splenomegaly due to portal hypertension and those without splenomegaly (ITP group).

RESULTS

The mean operative time (splenomegaly due to portal hypertension vs ITP; 171 vs 165 min; P = 0.7433) and estimated blood loss (248 vs 258 ml; P = 0.5396) were similar in the two groups. There were two patients with complications (11.8%) in the patients with splenomegaly due to portal hypertension and five patients with complications (29.4%) in those with ITP. All patients with splenomegaly due to portal hypertension showed appropriate increases in the platelet count following surgery. No perioperative mortality occurred.

CONCLUSIONS

We concluded that laparoscopic splenectomy was an effective procedure for splenomegaly due to portal hypertension, with findings being similar to those observed in patients with a normal-sized spleen (such as patients with ITP).