Laparoscopic splenectomy at caesarean section

Laparoscopic hysterectomy in obese women: a clinical prospective study

OBJECTIVE

To compare perioperative and postoperative outcomes of laparoscopic hysterectomy (LH) in surgical management of gynecological conditions in two groups of different weight.

METHODS

A prospective comparative clinical study of 271 LH performed for disease of female pelvic organs in a group of 54 obese patients (over 30 body mass index (BMI)) and in a group of 217 non-obese patients (less than 30 BMI). The following criteria were assessed: patient characteristics, indications for surgery, previous surgery, presence of adhesions, duration of procedure, blood loss, weight of specimen, hospital stay and complications. Statistical analysis was performed using the unpaired t-test and non-parametric Chi-square test when appropriate, with a significance level of P=0.05.

RESULTS

Three non-obese patients were converted to laparotomy due to operative complications. Laparoscopy in the remaining 268 patients (98.89%) was completed successfully. There was no significant difference in estimated blood loss, presence and degree of adhesions, weight of specimen, length of hospital stay and postoperative complications between women with high BMI and those with low BMI. The rate of major operative complications (5.55% versus 3.22%) was higher in the obese group. The duration of the operation was longer in obese women. However, the significance of the difference was borderline (P=0.06).

Splenectomy combined with cesarean section in a patient with severe immunological thrombocytopenic purpura refractory to medical therapy

Splenectomy as a treatment for severe immunological thrombocytopenic purpura is rarely performed in the third trimester of pregnancy. We report a 28-year-old patient who presented at the 34th gestational week with severe immunological thrombocytopenic purpura resistant to both corticosteroid and intravenous immunoglobulin therapies. Splenectomy combined with delivery by cesarean section provided remission of the disease.