Hand-assisted laparoscopic splenectomy for thrombocytopenia in patients with cirrhosis

Purpose Although splenectomy plays an important role in the management of patients with liver cirrhosis, the optimal technique, open surgery, total laparoscopic surgery or hand-assisted laparoscopic surgery (HALS), has not yet been defined. The present study evaluated the outcomes of HALS splenectomy for cirrhotic patients. Methods A total of 28 consecutive patients with cirrhosis that underwent HALS splenectomy were enrolled into this study. The preoperative laboratory and morphometric data, intraoperative variables and postoperative outcomes were reviewed from the hospital charts. Results The postoperative platelet count was remarkably elevated in all cases. A re-operation was required in 1 patient complicated with postoperative hemorrhage. Enhanced CT on POD 7 revealed a high incidence of portal or splenic vein thrombosis (PSVT; 22 patients, 78.6 %). PSVT was significantly associated with higher serum bilirubin, higher indocyanine green retention value at 15 min (ICG R-15), and larger splenic vein diameter. Conclusion HALS splenectomy was a very feasible and appropriate procedure for cirrhotic patients with hypersplenism. PSVT was a frequent complication and large splenic vein diameter, high serum bilirubin, and high ICG R-15 were found to be significant risk factors for PSVT after HALS splenectomy in cirrhotic patients.