Does the Early Ligation of the Splenic Artery Reduce Hemorrhage During Laparoscopic Splenectomy?

Prophylactic Splenectomy and Hyposplenism in Spaceflight

BACKGROUND: There is debate whether astronauts traveling to space should undergo a prophylactic splenectomy prior to long duration spaceflight. Risks to the spleen during flight include radiation and trauma. However, splenectomy also carries significant risks.METHODS: Systematic review of data published over the past 5 decades regarding risks associated with splenectomies and risks associated with irradiation to the spleen from long duration spaceflight were analyzed. A total of 41 articles were reviewed.RESULTS: Acute risks of splenectomy include intraoperative mortality rate (from hemorrhage) of 3-5%, mortality rate from postoperative complications of 6%, thromboembolic event rate of 10%, and portal vein thrombosis rate of 5-37%. Delayed risks of splenectomy include overwhelming postsplenectomy infection (OPSI) at 0.5% at 5 yr post splenectomy, mortality rate as high as 60% for pneumococcal infections, and development of malignancy with relative risk of 1.53. The risk of hematologic malignancy increases significantly when individuals reach 40 Gy of exposure, much higher than the 0.6 Gy of radiation experienced from a 12-mo round trip to Mars. Lower doses of radiation increase the risk of hyposplenism more so than hematologic malignancy.CONCLUSION:For protection against hematologic malignancy, the benefits of prophylactic splenectomy do not outweigh the risks. However, there is a possible risk of hyposplenism from long duration spaceflight. It would be beneficial to prophylactically provide vaccines against encapsulated organisms for long duration spaceflight to mitigate the risk of hyposplenism.Siu M, Levin D, Christiansen R, Kelly E, Alouidor R, Kamine TH. Prophylactic splenectomy and hyposplenism in spaceflight. Aerosp Med Hum Perform. 2022; 93(12):877-881.

Clinical Significance of Splenic Vessels and Anatomical Features in Laparoscopic Splenectomy

Introduction: Laparoscopic splenectomy (LS) has become the standard treatment for benign hematological disorders and hypersplenism. However, serious complications such as pancreatic fistula and portal venous thrombosis (PVT) sometimes occur. We investigated the clinical significance of splenic vessels and anatomical features in LS. Methods: Patient data were collected from 32 patients who underwent LS. The indications for LS were hypersplenism due to liver cirrhosis, idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura, hereditary spherocytosis, and others. Close contact of pancreatic tail with splenic hilum, spleen volume, and diameters of splenic vessels were evaluated on computed tomography images. Results: Close contact of pancreatic tail with splenic hilum was recognized in 15 of the patients. The close contact was significantly associated with operation time (P = .038), spleen volume (P = .021), and spleen volume/body surface area (BSA) ratio (P = .001). In multivariate analysis, spleen volume/BSA ratio was an independent factor for close contact (P = .022). PVT occurred in 3 cirrhosis patients, and the diameter of the splenic vein (SV) was significantly associated with PVT as a result of multivariate analysis (P = .027). Conclusion: Close contact of the pancreatic tail with the splenic hilum may cause a longer operation time at LS and be associated with spleen volume/BSA ratio. A larger SV diameter in cirrhosis patients may be related to PVT after LS.

Splenectomy in Gaucher Disease: A Call for Minimally Invasive Surgery

OBJECTIVE

The objective of this article was to demonstrate that Gaucher disease (GD) patients with refractory hypersplenism and massive splenomegaly may successfully undergo hand-assisted laparoscopic splenectomy (HALS).

METHODS

This was a retrospective audit conducted at the Gaucher clinic at a national referral center over a 10-year period.

PATIENT POPULATION

This study included 8 GD patients who underwent hand-assisted or conventional laparoscopic splenectomy for massive or complicated splenomegaly between the years 2007 and 2017.

RESULTS

Seven patients underwent an elective HALS procedure because of refractory hypersplenism, whereas 1 patient underwent an urgent conventional laparoscopic splenectomy because of torsion of a wandering spleen. Only 1 patient required conversion to open surgery because of multiple adhesions from a previous partial splenectomy. The mean weight of the removed spleens was 2373 g (range, 480 to 4900 g), mean craniocaudal length of the removed spleens was 25 cm (range, 20 to 33.5 cm), and mean operating time was 150 minutes (range, 96 to 280 min). Postoperative complications were limited to 2 patients and included thrombosis of the splenic vein stump in 1 patient, and propagation of a preoperative splenic vein thrombus to the portal system, as well as an accumulation of an intra-abdominal hematoma in another patient. There was no mortality. Mean length of hospital stay was 5 days (range, 2 to 11 d).

CONCLUSION

HALS for GD patients with refractory hypersplenism and massive splenomegaly is safe and feasible in experienced hands.

Splenic Bed Laparoscopic Splenectomy Approach for Massive Splenomegaly Secondary to Portal Hypertension and Liver Cirrhosis

This study was performed to evaluate the feasibility of the splenic bed laparoscopic splenectomy approach (SBLS) for massive splenomegaly (≥30 cm) in patients with hypersplenism secondary to portal hypertension and liver cirrhosis. Patients who underwent laparoscopic splenectomy (LS) from January 2012 to December 2016 were retrospectively reviewed. We performed LS in 83 patients with massive splenomegaly (≥30 cm) secondary to portal hypertension and liver cirrhosis. Of these patients, 37 underwent the SBLS and 46 underwent anterior LS (ALS). Five patients in the ALS group and none in the SBLS group underwent conversion to open surgery. The operation time, intraoperative blood loss volume, transfusion volume, frequency of transfusion, hemorrhage of short gastric vessels, conversion rate, postoperative hospital stay, and incidence of pancreatic fistula were all significantly lower in the SBLS than ALS group (all P < 0.05). No death or postoperative bleeding occurred in the two groups, and there were no significant differences in age, gender, spleen size, hemoglobin level, platelet count, prothrombin time, Child-Pugh class, hypoproteinemia, or ascites (all P > 0.05). The SBLS is more feasible and effective than ALS in patients with massive splenomegaly (≥30 cm) secondary to portal hypertension and liver cirrhosis.

Preoperative Predictive Factors of Conversions in Laparoscopic Splenectomies

PURPOSE

Presently, laparoscopic splenectomy (LS) is being performed for several indications in clinical practice. However, conversion to open surgery is occasionally required in some patients. We analyzed the intraoperative indications and potential preoperative predictors associated with conversion to open surgery in those presenting for LS.

METHODS

We reviewed 107 patients who underwent LS. We analyzed the surgical indications, spleen size, surgical procedure performed, operative time, rate of and indications for conversions, as well as postoperative complications.

RESULTS

Among the 15 patients (14.0%) who underwent conversion, the conversion was related to the occurrence of a splenic lymphoma in 10, severe bleeding in 3, a lack of anatomic definition in 1, and splenic candidiasis in 1 patient. A comparison between the results obtained in the initial 30 patients (LS performed during the learning curve) and those obtained in the remaining 77 patients, showed that conversions appeared to be related to the experience/expertise of the surgical team excluding patients with splenic malignancies. Conversion was not associated with a higher morbidity-mortality rate, but only a longer length of hospitalization.

CONCLUSIONS

LS is a gold standard procedure when performed by experienced and competent surgeons. However, careful patient selection is recommended before using the laparoscopic approach in those presenting with splenic malignancies.

[Laparoscopic splenectomy: indications, techniques, outcomes]

Laparoscopic splenectomy (LS) has become the standard approach to splenectomy for benign and malignant hematologic diseases despite a paucity of high-level evidence. The procedure requires expertise in laparoscopic surgical techniques and meticulous dissection of the spleen. Management should include a preoperative radiologic assessment to measure splenic volume and to detect the presence of accessory splenic tissue; the patient should undergo preoperative vaccination against meningococcal, pneumococcal, and Haemophilus influenzae type B infections. Prophylactic antibiotics are used in the perioperative period as well as prophylactic anticoagulation therapy which may be continued long-term in high-risk patients. LS is associated with a low morbidity and mortality; when compared to laparotomy, it reduces the length of hospital stay and improves the quality of life by decreasing postoperative ileus and pain. There are a variety of laparoscopic approaches; the hand-assisted technique and newer coagulating devices have facilitated the operative technique leading to increasing acceptance of laparoscopy as the preferred approach - even in patients with malignant hematologic disease and/or massive splenomegaly.

Role of color Doppler flow imaging in applicable anatomy of spleen vessels

AIM: To explore the role of color Doppler flow imaging (CDFI) in visualization of spleen vessels and to define its value for spleen micro-invasive operation.

METHODS: A total of 36 patients requiring laparoscopic splenectomy (LS) for various hematopathies and autoimmune diseases were randomly selected from April 2005 to May 2008. Anatomic types of spleen pedicle, adjacent relations between spleen vessels and pancreas, diameters of spleen artery and vein were detected and recorded by preoperative CDFI. Different operative procedures were performed according to different anatomic frameworks. The parameters were recorded by telerecording during LS and compared with those by preoperative CDFI using Chi-square test.

RESULTS: Two anatomic types of spleen pedicle and four different adjacent relations between spleen vessels and pancreas were detected by CDFI. The diameters of spleen artery and vein detected by CDFI were 0.46 ± 0.09 cm and 0.85 ± 0.35 cm, respectively. There was no statistical difference between the parameters recorded by CDFI and by telerecording (χ² = 0.250, 0.677, P > 0.05). LS was successfully performed following the anatomic information provided by preoperative CDFI.

CONCLUSION: Different anatomic frameworks of spleen vessels can be provided by preoperative CDFI, which instructs micro-invasive operation of spleen and increase the safety of operation.

Laparoscopic splenectomy for massive splenomegaly: technical aspects of initial ligation of splenic artery and extraction without hand-assisted technique

A 37-year-old man was referred for massive splenomegaly. In November 2005, he was diagnosed with non-Hodgkin's B-cell lymphoma in the setting of splenomegaly and thrombocytopenia. His laboratory results showed a coagulopathy owing to lupus anticoagulant. A computed tomography scan showed a 36 x 26 x 11 cm spleen and a prominent and sinuous splenic artery. The authors performed a laparoscopic splenectomy with an initial ligation of the splenic artery. The patient tolerated the procedure well and was discharged home on the fourth postoperative day in stable condition. Discussed in this paper is the safety and feasibility of the minimally invasive approach in massive splenomegaly.

Laparoscopic Treatment of Simultaneous Splenic Lymphangioma and Non-Hodgkin's Lymphoma: Report of a Case

We report, to the best of our knowledge, the first case of simultaneous splenic lymphangioma and non-Hodgkin's B-cell lymphoma with liver and bone marrow involvement arising in a 69-year-old woman suffering from chronic hepatitis C infection treated with laparoscopic splenectomy followed by polychemotherapy. After 22 months from surgical treatment, the patient is alive without signs of residual disease. According to our experience, laparoscopic splenectomy followed by polychemotherapy seems to be an effective treatment for simultaneous splenic lymphangioma and non-Hodgkin's B-cell lymphoma.

Early ligation of the splenic artery in the leaning spleen approach to laparoscopic splenectomy

BACKGROUND

A variety of approaches have been proposed for laparoscopic splenectomy, including the anterior approach, the lateral approach (hanging spleen technique), and the semilateral approach (leaning spleen technique). We advocate a leaning spleen approach with early ligation of the splenic artery.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Since 1997, we have performed 120 laparoscopic splenectomies using the leaning spleen approach along with early ligation of the splenic artery. The patient is placed in a 70-degree semi-right lateral position. The operative steps are: exposure of the lesser sac, control of the splenic artery, mobilization of the splenic flexure, division of the splenocolic ligament, division of the splenophrenic ligament, hilar mobilization, mobilization of the upper pole of the spleen, and removal of the specimen.

RESULTS

The most common indication for surgery was autoimmune hemolytic anemia (35.8%). One patient had severe perisplenitis with extensively vascularized adhesions, which led to oozing during surgery obscuring the laparoscopic view, requiring conversion to open surgery. The mean spleen diameter was 22.8 cm (range, 12.5-37.0 cm) on imaging. The mean operative time was 85 minutes (range, 54-124 minutes). Concomitant laparoscopic cholecystectomy for pigment stone cholelithiasis was performed in 8.3% of the patients. Accessory splenic tissue was found in 4.2%. The average hospital stay was 3 days (range, 1-6 days). There were no significant postoperative complications. The average follow-up has been 5.4 years (range, 1 month-9 years).

CONCLUSION

In adopting the modification of early ligation of the splenic artery in the leaning spleen approach, we believe we have helped to advance laparoscopic splenectomy.

Laparoscopic splenectomy: present status and future perspective

Laparoscopic splenectomy has become widely accepted as the approach of choice for the surgical treatment of benign and malignant hematologic diseases. Advances in technology have led to better outcomes for the procedure, and have allowed surgeons to apply the technique to disease processes that were at one time felt to be contraindications to laparoscopic splenectomy. However, challenges still remain. There is a steep learning curve associated with the procedure. The development of cost-effective laparoscopic simulators to target the skills required for laparoscopic splenectomy and other laparoscopic procedures is essential. The advent of devices which isolate and seal the large blood vessels that surround the spleen have reduced intra-operative bleeding and minimized conversions to open splenectomy. Improvements in optics and instrumentation, as well as robotic technology, will continue to define the frontier of minimally invasive surgery, and further facilitate the acceptance of laparoscopic splenectomy for the treatment of benign and malignant hematologic diseases.