Laparoscpic Splenectomy for Idiopathic Thrombocytopenic Purpura using Harmonic Scalpel and Endocutter in the Splenic Hilus

Harutsugu Sodeyama, Kazuhiro Hanazaki, Masao Wakabayashi, Jun Igarashi, Shinji Nakata, Nobuyuki Kawamura, Tadaaki Miyazaki

Department of Surgery, Nagano Red Cross Hospital

Laparoscopic splenectomy was performed on 10 patients with idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura. Laparoscopic splenectomy using a Harmonic Scalpel and an endocutter for resection of a splenic hilus was carried out in the last five patients. These patients were placed in a right lateral and head-up position during the operation. In one patient during splenectomy the operation was converted into laparotomy because of anomalous bleeding from a short gastric artery. In the other four patients, successful surgery was possible and the average operation time was 1 hour 37 minutes, which was significantly shorter than the 3 hours 10 minutes for the five patients operated on by the former surgical technique. All patients had uneventful postoperative courses without any complications. This new surgical technique of laparoscopic splenectomy is recommended for patients with idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura.

Key words
laparoscopic splenectomy, Harmonic Scalpel, idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura

Reprint requests
Harutsugu Sodeyama Department of Surgery, Nagano Red Cross Hospial
1512-1 Wakasato, Nagano, 380-8582 JAPAN

Accepted
April 22, 1998

To read the PDF file you will need Abobe Reader installed on your computer.