Laparoscopic Spleen Surgery

What is the Spleen?

Spleen is a soft blood filled organ in the upper abdomen on the left side. It is important for recycling of blood cells and also an important part of the immune system.

What conditions of the spleen warrant its removal?

The most common reasons for removal of the spleen are:

• Severe trauma
• Auto-immune thrombocytopenic Purpura (platelet count is low to to their auto destruction in the spleen)
• Hemolytic anaemia (recurrent drop in haemoglobin due to auto destruction of red cells due to antibodies)
• Genetic conditions like sickle cell disease, thalassemia etc
• Cancer (leukemia, lympoma)
• Large splenic abscesses
• Left sided portal hypertension

What are the advantages of Laparoscopic Splenectomy?

Apart from the usual advantages, laparoscopy makes it possible to view the anatomy better and also visualize daughter spleens which also need removal for total eradication of the disease.

What care needs to be exercised after spleen surgery specifically?

Due to surgical removal of spleen, the body’s capacity to combat infections diminishes and one is prone to OPSI (overwhelming post Splenectomy infections). A certain combination of vaccines can help diminish such an event.