An easy way to put the spleen into the bag

Introduction

Splenectomy is a therapeutic and diagnostic procedure used in a wide range of situations. Compared with the open technique, the main advantages of laparoscopic splenectomy (LS) include less pain, faster recovery of intestinal motility, shorter hospitalization period and better cosmesis [1-5]. Advances in surgical techniques and accumulating expertise in laparoscopic surgery have led to rapid improvement in the field of laparoscopic splenectomy compared to that in conventional surgery. Laparoscopic splenectomy has become the gold standard in some of the hematological diseases in which splenectomy has been indicated.

Laparoscopic splenectomy was first described by Cadiere in 1993 [6, 7]. Some minor modifications such as positioning of the patient, diameters of trocars, dissecting instruments and extraction of the spleen occurred in different parts of the procedure after its original description. The most important change in the technique of LS concerns extraction of the spleen.

Laparoscopic removal of the spleen includes mobilization of the spleen by dividing the splenocolic, lienophrenic and splenorenal ligaments, ligation of the short gastric vessels, and then dissection and ligation of the hilar vessels with clips, staplers or thermal energy devices. Once all the attachments of the spleen are divided, the spleen is placed into an endobag. This step, which is sometimes the most time-consuming part of the operation, occasionally takes a longer time than that spent on freeing all the attachments of the spleen. Sometimes, the spleen may seem to be placed into the bag but it may later slip and come out of the bag during extraction. It may even be damaged during such manipulations.

Aim

Laparoscopic splenectomy is a procedure that has been used for 15 years in our center. Because of difficulty placing the spleen into the endobag, we had been extracting the spleen outside the body by using a 4 cm to 5 cm abdominal incision in our early operations. Then, we managed to extract the spleen in pieces. Recently, we have managed to place the spleen into the endobag with a different and simple method in many cases of LS. The aim of this study is to present the mentioned method.

Material and methods

The splenocolic, gastrosplenic, and distal spleno­renal ligaments are taken down using the LigaSure. Then, the splenic pedicle is freed following the division by 10 mm LigaSure. The proximal part of the splenorenal ligament is left undivided in the size of one LigaSure cut length to use as a stalk while placing the spleen into the endobag (Photo 1).

A bag is introduced from the port and is opened in the abdominal cavity. The bag is advanced from the inferior pole of the spleen toward the superior pole. Only keeping the bag open is sufficient to place the spleen into the bag (Figure 1). This technique does not allow slippage or displacement of the spleen as happens in other methods where all the attachments of the spleen are freed. The spleen, even if it rotates, does not change its place. Then, the spleen can be easily placed into the bag through its single attachment. After almost the whole spleen is placed into the bag, the proximal part of the splenorenal ligament that was left to fix the spleen or to use as a stalk is divided by use of the LigaSure. Thus, the whole spleen can be placed into the endobag by its own gravity.

Discussion

The exteriorization of the spleen that has been freed from all of its attachments is a challenging part of LS. Through our experience, the method that we have described above easily overcomes one of the most unpleasant parts of LS. This technique is an easy way to put the spleen into the bag. It can be learned easily and quickly.

References

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 3. Velanovich V, Shurafa MS. Clinical and quality of life outcomes of laparoscopic and open splenectomy for hematological diseases. Eur J Surg 2001; 167: 23-8.

 4. Stefaniak TJ, Adamczyk K, Walerzak A, et al. Body image is an important augmentation to quality of life in evaluating the results of laparoscopic versus classic surgery. Videosurgery

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 6. Cadiere GB, Verroken R, Himpens J, et al. Operative strategy in laparoscopic splenectomy. J Am Coll Surg 1994; 179: 668-72.

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Received: 19.05.2012, accepted: 3.10.2012.