Laparoscopic splenectomy is a better surgical approach for spleen-relevant disorders: a comprehensive meta-analysis based on 15-year literatures.

BACKGROUND

Currently, whether laparoscopic or open splenectomy is a gold standard option for spleen abnormalities remains in controversy. There is in deficiency of academic evidence concerning the surgical efficacy and safety of both comparative managements. In order to surgically appraise the applied potentials of both approaches, we hence performed this comprehensive meta-analysis on the basis of 15-year literatures.

METHODS

Via searching of PubMed, EMBASE, Web of Science, and Cochrane Library databases, overall 37 original articles were eligibly incorporated into our meta-analysis and subdivided into six sections. In accordance with the Cochrane Collaboration protocol, all statistical procedures were mathematically conducted in a standard manner. Publication bias was additionally evaluated by funnel plot and Egger's test.

RESULTS

Irrespective of the diversified splenic disorders, laparoscopic splenectomy was superior to open technique owing to its fewer estimated blood loss, shorter postoperative hospital stay as well as lower complication rate (P < 0.05). As for operative duration and perioperative mortality, a statistical similarity was observed amid both surgical measures (P > 0.05).

CONCLUSION

Technically, laparoscopic splenectomy should be recommended as a prior remedy with its advantage of rapid recovery and minimally physical damage, in addition to its comparably surgical efficacy against that of open manipulation.