06 Aug Laparoscopic Splenectomy
Removal of the spleen may be indicated due to infection, cancer, inflammation or trauma. Laparoscopic splenectomy is a newer procedure to remove the spleen. Instead of using a long incision on the abdomen, a few small incisions are made. Through these incisions surgical equipment is passed through and with the help of video monitoring the surgeon is able to remove the spleen. Once the spleen has been removed and the surgeon has found no signs of continued bleeding, the instruments are removed and the incisions are closed. By doing this procedure laparoscopically the time spent in the hospital and the pain following the surgery is greatly reduced. In addition, the risk of getting an infection is reduced and the scars left behind from the surgery are small.