Table Of Contents
- What is Laparoscopic Splenectomy?
- Why do you need to have a Laparoscopic Splenectomy?
- What is the procedure for Laparoscopic Splenectomy?
- Laparoscopic Splenectomy
- Open surgery
- Post-surgery care
- The Outlook
What is Laparoscopic Splenectomy?
Splenectomy is a surgical procedure performed to remove the spleen. The spleen is placed under your ribcage on your abdomen’s upper left side. It helps fight infection and flushes out unwanted toxins from your system, such as poor, damaged blood cells.
Laparoscopic Splenectomy is usually conducted when there is an abdominal injury. Splenectomy is used to treat other conditions as well, such as the enlarged spleen, blood disorders, infection, cancer, and noncancerous cysts or tumors.
Laparoscopic Splenectomy is conducted using a tiny video camera and special surgical tools. It is a non-invasive procedure through which you will be able to leave the hospital the same day and recover easily.
Why do you need to have a Laparoscopic Splenectomy?
There are a number of reasons why you can have a Splenectomy.
- Certain Cancers – Lymphoma is one of the main conditions why you need a splenectomy.
- Infection – Abscess of the spleen, though rare, can be a reason to remove your spleen.
- Trauma – though many cases are treated without removing the spleen, if bleeding is uncontrollable, Splenectomy is the only option.
- Hypersplenism – inflamed spleen becomes overactive that kills too many blood cells and platelets.
- Blood disorders – when medical treatment isn’t effective, certain disorders such as idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura or autoimmune hemolytic anemia can be treated by removing your spleen.
- Enlarged spleen – Splenectomy may be needed to determine the cause of the enlarged spleen or treat symptoms such as pain and feeling full eating even a tiny amount of food.
What is the procedure for Laparoscopic Splenectomy?
The doctor will conduct tests such as:
- Blood test including blood count
- Physical exam
- Ultrasound or CT scans
- Bone marrow tissue biopsy
Laparoscopic Splenectomy is one of the common ways nowadays to remove the spleen if it is not that enlarged.
You will be given anesthesia before performing laparoscopy. If the spleen is not massively enlarged, a Laparoscopic Splenectomy is enough. Only if the inflammation is massive will you be asked to undergo an open splenectomy.
Laparoscopic Splenectomy
Under general anesthesia, the abdomen is filled with carbon dioxide that inflates the region through small incisions. One thin tube with a camera is inserted for the surgeons to monitor the internal organs.
Your surgeon will free the spleen from its surrounding organs. The free spleen is kept in a special bag. Once they detect the disease, they will break the spleen into small pieces. The fragments of your spleen will be sent to pathology for examination, and the bag is removed.
Open surgery
If your infected area is too large, open surgery will be conducted through a single large incision. Scar tissue from your previous operation may tip your surgeon to pick the open surgery. It will be decided by the surgeon before/during surgery. However, Laparoscopic Splenectomy can be changed to open if there are any bleeding issues.
Post-surgery care
After Splenectomy, you will be able to follow a regular diet without much difficulty. However, it will take 4-6 weeks to recover based on the severity of the surgery. Your doctor will inform you when you are ready to get back to your daily activities.
The Outlook
Chances are quite good if you are otherwise healthy. If you’ve had undergone Laparoscopic Splenectomy, you will always be vulnerable to certain infections that may need vaccinations or antibiotics for lifelong.
