Laparoscopic Splenectomy

The spleen does not belong to the digestive tract, but because of its location at the left uppermost part of the abdomen, it will be discussed here. There are some blood diseases or conditions that can be treated or improved when the spleen is removed. Today the removal of the spleen (splenectomy) can be performed laparoscopically, especially when its size is not that large. We have been performing laparoscopic splenectomies since the mid90ʼs and we published our first results.

Using advanced laparoscopic or robotic technology and techniques, we mobilize the spleen from its attachments in the bottom of the abdomen, we free it from the stomach, we control the artery and veins to and from the spleen and then we remove it. Laparoscopic splenectomy prevents the patient from having a very long, painful incision in the abdomen, or from developing postoperative wound infection and hernias, and leads to much shorter recuperation time.