Laparoscopic splenopexy for wandering (pelvic) spleen

Abstract

Wandering spleen is a rare clinical diagnosis with a high incidence of splenic torsion and infarction. The preferred treatment for this condition currently is splenopexy to reposition and fixate the spleen in the left upper quadrant of the abdomen to preserve splenic function. We recently performed the first splenopexy for a wandering spleen using laparoscopic techniques. The patient was a 19-year-old woman who had an asymptomatic lower abdominal/pelvic mass found on physical examination. Diagnostic evaluation (ultrasound, computed tomography scan, and liver-spleen scan) showed an absent spleen in the upper abdomen, normal uterus and ovaries, and an 11 x 7-cm pelvic spleen. Laparoscopic splenopexy was performed using Vicryl mesh to suspend and fixate the spleen in the left upper quadrant of the abdomen. Total operative time was 175 min, there were no intra- or postoperative complications, and the patient was discharged on the 1st postoperative day. Follow-up at 2 and 7 months indicated that she was asymptomatic with a nonpalpable spleen. The results suggest that a laparoscopic approach to splenopexy should be considered for the treatment of patients with a wandering spleen.