Laparoscopic splenectomy coupled with laparoscopic cholecystectomy

Cholecystectomy for asymptomatic gallstones: Markov decision tree analysis

Gallstones are a common public health problem, especially in developed countries. There are an increasing number of patients who are diagnosed with gallstones due to increasing awareness and liberal use of imaging, with 22.6%-80% of gallstone patients being asymptomatic at the time of diagnosis. Despite being asymptomatic, this group of patients are still at life-long risk of developing symptoms and complications such as acute cholangitis and acute biliary pancreatitis. Hence, while early prophylactic cholecystectomy may have some benefits in selected groups of patients, the current standard practice is to recommend cholecystectomy only after symptoms or complications occur. After reviewing the current evidence about the natural course of asymptomatic gallstones, complications of cholecystectomy, quality of life outcomes, and economic outcomes, we recommend that the option of cholecystectomy should be discussed with all asymptomatic gallstone patients. Disclosure of material information is essential for patients to make an informed choice for prophylactic cholecystectomy. It is for the patient to decide on watchful waiting or prophylactic cholecystectomy, and not for the medical community to make a blanket policy of watchful waiting for asymptomatic gallstone patients. For patients with high-risk profiles, it is clinically justifiable to advocate cholecystectomy to minimize the likelihood of morbidity due to complications.

Analysis of the surgical treatment of the patients operated on by using laparoscopic and classic splenectomy due to benign disorders of the spleen

Objectives

Laparoscopic splenectomy became the standard surgical procedure in the 1990s. The goal of this study was to analyze the outcome of the patients who underwent laparoscopic splenectomy for the benign hematologic diseases of the spleen and compare its results with open splenectomy.

Material and Methods

The study was conducted as a retrospective cohort study analyzing and comparing the data obtained from 196 patients' case records in the Clinic for Digestive Surgery, Clinical Center of Serbia, for the benign disorders of the spleen, divided into two groups: patients operated with laparoscopic technique and patients in whom classic splenectomy was performed. The analyzed parameters were divided into three groups as preoperative, intraoperative and postoperative.

Results

In the laparoscopic splenectomy group, less intraoperative blood loss, lower incidental intraoperative complications and a shorter duration of surgery were recorded. The incidence of postoperative complications and reoperations was higher in the group of classically operated patients. Postoperative recovery, expressed by the duration of postoperative abdominal drainage, recovery of intestinal peristalsis and length of postoperative hospitalization, was significantly shorter in the laparoscopic group.

Conclusion

Laparoscopic splenectomy is an effective and safe surgical procedure in the treatment of many benign diseases of the spleen. Improvement of the laparoscopic technique of surgical teams and technical improvement of the laparoscopic equipment can lead to even wider application of laparoscopic splenectomy as standard operative procedure, and thus to safer and better quality treatment of patients with wider spectrum diseases of the spleen.

Concomitant Laparoscopic Splenectomy and Cholecystectomy: A Systematic Review of the Literature

Background: Concomitant laparoscopic splenectomy and cholecystectomy (CLSC) is performed for concurrent pathologies of the spleen and gallbladder. This systematic review aimed to evaluate the available evidence on its indications, operative technique, and outcomes. Materials and Methods: The PubMed and Cochrane bibliographical databases were searched from the beginning of time (last search: December 6, 2019) for studies reporting on CLSC. The National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLBI) quality assessment tool was utilized for the evaluation of eligible articles. Results: Eight studies met inclusion criteria and concerned collectively 108 patients (53 males and 55 females) with a mean age of 27.02 ± 20.48 years (mean, SD). The most common surgery indications were hereditary spherocytosis (38.9%) and sickle cell disease or β-thalassemia (32.4%). Laparoscopic cholecystectomy preceded splenectomy in the majority of cases (75%). A five-trocar approach was most frequently (89.8%) utilized. The mean operation duration was 170.18 ± 53.07 minutes (mean, SD). Resected spleen weight was 601.82 ± 386.02 g (mean, SD) and had a length of 18.74 ± 5.3 cm (mean, SD). The conversion rate was 2.7%, while 20.4% of included cases experienced postoperative complications. Most frequent ones included pulmonary infection (6.5%) and portal/splenic vein thrombosis (4.6%). No postoperative death was recorded. Mean hospitalization period was 5.43 ± 3.18 days (mean, SD). Conclusions: CLSC is a safe and feasible operation for simultaneous diseases of the spleen and gallbladder that require elective procedures. High-quality clinical trials are essential to further elucidate clinical evidence and standardize operative technique.

Hemocoagulative post-operative changes after laparoscopic surgery compared to open surgery: the role of lupus anticoagulant

Although still debated, post-operative modification of hemostasis seems to be less pronounced after laparoscopy compared to open surgery. Antiphospholipid antibodies might play a role in the post-operative thromboembolic risk, although their evaluation in surgical patients has never been performed. Post-operative modification of antiphospholipid antibodies could be related to the surgical approach (laparoscopic or open). In this prospective study, the authors statistically compared the pre-operative values and post-operative modification of antiphospholipid antibodies in two homogeneous groups of patients operated on by laparoscopic and open surgery. No statistical differences within each group and between the two groups were shown comparing mean values of pre-operative and post-operative antiphospholipid antibodies. In the open group, there was a significant difference between pre-operative and post-operative LAC means (P < 0.01). In the laparoscopic group, on the contrary, no significant change in LAC values between pre- and post-operative tests (P = 0.55) was observed. Since LAC could be related to coagulation disorders, this study seems to support that laparoscopic surgery might induce a less risk of post-operative thromboembolic disease.

Management of Children With β-Thalassemia Intermedia: Overview, Recent Advances, and Treatment Challenges

Our knowledge of the various clinical morbidities that thalassemia intermedia (TI) patients endure has substantially increased over the past decade. It is mandatory to grasp a solid understanding of disease-specific complications in order to tailor management. The optimal course of management for TI patients has been hard to identify, and several controversies remain with regard to the best treatment plan. Although advances in TI are moving at a fast pace, many complications remain with no treatment guidelines. Studies that expand our understanding of the mechanisms and risk factors, as well as clinical trials evaluating the roles of available treatments, will help establish management guidelines that improve patient care. Novel therapeutic modalities are now emerging. This article focuses on the management of children with β-TI. We present various clinical morbidities and their association with the underlying disease pathophysiology and risk factors. All therapeutic options, recent advances, and treatment challenges were reviewed.

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 for Benign Hematological Disorders in Adults: A Systematic Review

BACKGROUND

Since its introduction in the early 1990s, laparoscopic splenectomy (LS) has gained worldwide acceptance for spleen removal, especially in hematological patients.

AIM

The present review summarizes the current knowledge and results of LS for the treatment of benign hematological diseases in adults.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

A MEDLINE/PubMed database research was performed using the terms: "laparoscopic splenectomy" OR "laparoscopy" OR "splenectomy" AND "hematological disorders" OR "hematological disease" OR "hematology" AND "adults" as key words. We set our analysis starting date as January 1st 2010 and the end date as December 31st 2016. We identified 247 relative articles. All the references from the identified articles were searched for relevant information.

RESULTS

Twenty-seven articles were deemed appropriate for our analysis. LS was found to be feasible and safe in the majority of patients with benign hematological disorders, with a mortality rate ranging from 0% to less than 4% and the postoperative complications rate from 0% to 35.7%. The conversion rate was also very low (4%) and response (complete or partial) was achieved in more than 80% of patients. Lateral approach with four trocars was the most commonly used approach with concommitant cholecystectomy being correlated with increased operative time and morbidity.

CONCLUSION

Current literature holds that whenever splenectomy is required for the treatment of hematological disorders in adults, a laparoscopic approach should be offered as the gold standard. However, to strengthen the clinical evidence in favor of LS, more high-quality clinical trials on several issues of the procedure are necessary.

Laparoscopic Colorectal Surgery for Cancer: What Is the Role of Complete Mesocolic Excision and Splenic Flexure Mobilization?

Laparoscopic colorectal surgery for cancer is nowadays routinely performed worldwide. After the introduction by Heald of total mesorectal excision for rectal cancer, also a complete mesocolic excision has been advocated as an essential surgical step to improve oncologic results in patients with colon cancer. The complete removal of mesocolon with high ligation of the main mesenteric arteries and veins and the mobilization of splenic flexure are well-known but still debated in western surgical society. The authors reviewed the literature and outlined the rationale and the results of splenic flexure mobilization and complete mesocolic excision in laparoscopic surgery for colorectal cancer.

Safe approach to the splenic hilum by first mobilizing the pancreatic tail in laparoscopic splenectomy

INTRODUCTION

We employed a safe approach during laparoscopic splenectomy by first mobilizing the pancreatic tail and then dissecting the splenic vessels at the splenic hilum before mobilizing the spleen.

MATERIALS AND SURGICAL TECHNIQUE

Patients were placed in the lithotomy position, and only the upper body was twisted to the right side. Five trocars were placed. After the bursa omentalis was opened, an avascular layer was identified behind the pancreas. This avascular layer was bluntly dissected, and the pancreatic tail was isolated from the retroperitoneum. The tissue surrounding the splenic hilum was dissected by a handling tape that was placed around the pancreatic tail. Because the spleen remained connected to the retroperitoneum with the splenorenal ligament, a good operative view of the splenic hilum was obtained with proper extension. After sufficient space was secured between the pancreatic tail and the spleen, the splenic vessels were divided with a linear stapler. The spleen was detached in the final stage.

DISCUSSION

The current standardized procedure is highly recommended for a safe laparoscopic splenectomy.