Partial Splenectomy is Superior to Total Splenectomy for Selected Patients with Hemangiomas or Cysts

Abstract

Background: The superiority of partial splenectomy (PS) as a treatment for benign tumors has not well been confirmed. This study aimed to identify the short- and long-term outcomes of PS, to compare laparoscopic and laparotomic PS, and to demonstrate whether the effects of PS are superior to that of total splenectomy (TS).

Methods: Patients with either a hemangioma or cyst who underwent PS or TS from 2009 to 2015 at Qilu Hospital of Shandong University were included. Clinical parameters were collected and analyzed.

Results: A total of 17 patients underwent PS were collected, including 2 men and 15 women with a mean age of 43.9 ± 11.3 years old. Patients who underwent laparoscopic PS (9 cases) had a longer operative time and shorter postoperative hospital stay than those who underwent laparotomy (8 cases). Compared with TS (22 cases), PS significantly decreased the incidence of thrombocytosis, shortened time until drainage removal, and shortened postoperative hospital stay. After an average follow-up of 34.8 months, patients who underwent TS showed a higher incidence of thrombocytosis and splenic vein thrombosis compared with patients underwent PS.

Conclusions: PS is technically feasible and provides favorable short- and long-term outcomes for selected patients with either a hemangioma or cyst compared with TS. Laparoscopic PS shows lower morbidity and equal therapeutic efficacy compared with laparotomic PS and can be widely performed.