Laparoscopic splenectomy for congenital spherocytosis with splenomegaly: a case report

Abstract

The traditional method of splenectomy involves a 7- to 10-cm abdominal incision, with its attendant morbidity that includes sepsis. Recently, the laparoscopic technique has been adopted for splenectomy. Many surgeons still believe that laparoscopic splenectomy should be carried out only for idiopathic thrombocytopenia purpura and Hodgkin's disease with a normal-sized spleen. A 16-year-old girl with marked splenomegaly (spleen size for times normal and weighing 600 g) due to congenital spherocytosis underwent laparoscopic splenectomy and retrieval of the spleen through the umbilical trocar site. Preoperative arterial embolization was not used, and the operative blood loss was estimated to be only 250 mL. Her postoperative course was uncomplicated, and she was discharged on the 4th postoperative day. The operative technique is described and the advantages of laparoscopic splenectomy are discussed.