Objective:

To compare laparoscopic and open splenectomy in patients with hemorrhagic splenic pathology.

Methods:

A cross-sectional study was conducted, based on an institutional registry of open and laparoscopic splenectomies performed at Fundación Cardioinfantil-Instituto de Cardiología between 1996 and 2016. Preoperative, intraoperative and postoperative variables were assessed; the rate of complications, surgical time, hospital length of stay and the need for reoperation were compared between the approaches.

Results:

Information of 202 patients was assessed. Open approach was performed in 137 patients (68 %), 61% were men and the median age was 39.5 years (P25-P75 27.7-58.0). Thrombocytopenic purpura refractory to management with corticosteroids was the main indication for surgery. A longer surgical time (median=129 minutes) and less bleeding (median=100 cc P25-P75 50-200) for laparoscopic approach versus open approach (median=60 minutes; median=250 cc P25-P75 50-500, respectively) was identified (p<0.001). Intraoperative complications were similar in both groups (p=0,065), the conversion rate in laparoscopic group was 26.1 %, it was secondary to splenomegaly. No statistically significant differences were found in the two groups in the need for transfusion, hospital length of stay or reoperation. The rate of postoperative complications was 10.2 % for open splenectomy and 7.6 % for laparoscopic.

Conclusions:

Laparoscopic splenectomy is a safe procedure that offers benefits in relation to the open approach for the management of hematological diseases in terms of intraoperative bleeding and is comparable in the identification of supernumerary spleens, surgical complications, and hospitalization time.

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