Review
Copyright ©2014 Baishideng Publishing Group Inc. All rights reserved.
World J Surg Proced. Jul 28, 2014; 4(2): 33-47
Published online Jul 28, 2014. doi: 10.5412/wjsp.v4.i2.33
Current concepts of laparoscopic splenectomy in elective patients
Marco Casaccia, Cesare Stabilini, Ezio Gianetta, Adalberto Ibatici, Gregorio Santori
Marco Casaccia, UOC Clinica Chirurgica 2, IRCCS Azienda Ospedaliera Universitaria San Martino-IST, Monoblocco XI piano-Largo Rosanna Benzi, 10-16132 Genova, Italy
Marco Casaccia, Cesare Stabilini, Ezio Gianetta, Surgical Clinic Unit II, IRCCS San Martino University Hospital-National Institute for Cancer Research, 10-16132 Genoa, Italy
Adalberto Ibatici, Division of Hematology 1, IRCCS San Martino University Hospital-National Institute for Cancer Research, 10-16132 Genoa, Italy
Gregorio Santori, Department of Surgical Sciences and Integrated Diagnostics, University of Genoa, 10-16132 Genoa, Italy
Author contributions: Casaccia M ideated the study, collected the articles, analyzed their results and wrote the review; Stabilini C drafted the review and revised it critically for important intellectual content; Gianetta E substantial contributed to conception and design; Ibatici A revised it critically for important intellectual content; Santori G drafted the review and contributed to acquisition of data, analysis and interpretation of results; all authors approved the final draft.
Correspondence to: Marco Casaccia, Professor, UOC Clinica Chirurgica 2, IRCCS Azienda Ospedaliera Universitaria San Martino-IST, Monoblocco XI piano-Largo Rosanna Benzi, 10-16132 Genova, Italy. marco.casaccia@unige.it
Telephone: +39-010-5554539 Fax: +39-010-5556944
Received: April 7, 2014
Revised: May 13, 2014
Accepted: June 20, 2014
Published online: July 28, 2014
Processing time: 111 Days and 13.5 Hours
Core Tip

Core tip: Laparoscopic splenectomy (LS) has progressively become the “gold standard” for the surgical treatment of benign hematologic diseases, regardless of the presence or absence of splenomegaly. The majority of previous published data reflects a substantial recognition of the laparoscopic method, although several areas still remain controversial. This review aims to update the current procedures and emerging technologies concerning minimally invasive splenectomy. The main indications and concerns for LS, as well as pre- and intraoperative potential problems in case of massive splenomegaly are reviewed. An evaluation of the techniques and clinical results of multiport laparoscopic splenectomy, hand-assisted laparoscopic splenectomy, robotic splenectomy, and single-port splenectomy is carried out. Moreover, postoperative outcomes of LS are examined, together with the procedure-specific complications.