The THUNDERBEAT system for tissue dissection and vascular control in laparoscopic splenectomy

The advent of new energy sources for hemostasis has greatly facilitated advanced laparoscopic procedures. We describe a straightforward technique of laparoscopic splenectomy (LS) accomplished using the THUNDERBEAT? system (TS) (Olympus Medical Systems Corp., Tokyo, Japan) as the sole means of tissue dissection and hemostasis in two patients aged 19 and 6 years, respectively. The specimens were removed intact via a Pfannenstiel incision. Total operative time was 165 and 150?min, and length of hospital stay was three and 4 d, respectively. The TS is an appealing and reliable alternative to currently available energy devices, allowing fast dissection and secure hemostasis during laparoscopic splenectomy.     

门静脉插管防治脾切除断流术后门静脉血栓形成

目的探讨门静脉插管防治脾切除断流术后门静脉血栓形成的安全性和有效性。方法自2004年4月至2005年5月,北京佑安医院肝胆外科共行脾切除断流术60例,其中35例留置门静脉插管,术后根据情况予以抗凝、溶栓等治疗。观察比较了该组患者手术前后血小板的变化、门静脉血流动力学变化、感染发生率、门静脉血栓的发生率和溶栓效果。结果脾切除断流术后患者血小板进行性升高,术后2周左右达到峰值,术后1月降至正常水平;术后门静脉最大流速、平均流速均明显减慢;门静脉插管感染1例;5例患者术前存在门静脉血栓,发生率为14.28%;术后7例患者出现门静脉血栓,发生率为20%;经门静脉插管予以溶栓抗凝治疗后,出院时复查门静脉血栓为6例,新发血栓者溶栓成功率为85.72%。结论经门静脉插管溶栓抗凝可有效防治脾切除断流术后门静脉血栓形成,为患者今后可能施行的肝移植手术保留条件。     

Is repeat partial splenectomy in Gaucher's disease feasible or worthwhile?

A 13-year-old girl who suffered from Gaucher's disease had a partial splenectomy in 1983. Because of hypersplenism and mechanical problems a second partial splenectomy was performed in 1987 without complications. The rational and technical problems are discussed. Offprint requests to: J. A. Bar-Maor     

Impact of hematological diagnosis on early and late outcome after laparoscopic splenectomyrid=""

Background: Laparoscopic splenectomy (LS) is now regarded as the treatment of choice for autoimmune thrombopenia (ITP). However, there have been few reports describing the application of LS to other splenic diseases, such as malignant entities and conditions associated with splenomegaly. Hematological diseases have specific clinical features that can influence immediate outcome after LS. Although the long-term effects of LS are unknown, a risk of splenosis has been suggested. Therefore, we designed a study to analyze the impact of primary hematological disease on immediate and late outcome in a prospective series of LS patients. Methods: We performed a prospective analysis of 111 LS done between February 1993 and March 1999. The patients were classified by hematological indications into the following four groups: (a) group 1, low platelet count. This group was further subdivided into group 1A, idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura (ITP) (n= 48) and group 1B, HIV-related ITP (n= 8); (b) group 2, anemia. This group was further subdivided into group 2A, autoimmune hemolytic anemia (n= 8), and group 2B, spherocytosis (n= 11); (c) group 3, malignancy (n= 28); and (d) group 4, others (n= 8). Immediate outcomes were recorded prospectively. Hematological status and late complications were reviewed after a mean follow-up of 24 ± 18 months. Results: There were no significant differences between the groups in terms of conversion, transfusion requirements, and morbidity, although transfusion and morbidity were slightly higher in group 3. However, hospital stay was significantly longer in groups 3 and 4 than in groups 1 and 2. Long-term follow-up showed satisfactory hematological results in ≥75% of patients (group 1A, 82%; group 1B, 88%; group 2A, 88%; group 2B, 100%; group 3, 75%; group 4, 88%). Overall, late morbidity was 8.3% and mortality was 6.2%, mainly due to deaths in group 4 (six of 22 patients). Conclusion: LS is a safe and reproducible procedure for most hematological indications, with a similar immediate outcome for benign diseases and a long-term hematological response comparable to the standard results that have been observed in open series. Received: 1 April 1999/Accepted: 22 November 1999/Online publication: 8 May 2000     

THERAPEUTIC STUDIES IN OSTEOPETROSIS

Four cases of osteopetrosis, with manifestations within the first months of life, are presented. The first two cases were siblings. One of them received no therapy, the other 12 blood transfusions and antibiotics. Therapy had no influence on the thrombocytopenia and haemolytic process in Case 2, and he developed rachitic-like changes and a decrease in serum calcium during hospitalization. Both these two siblings died at the age of 5 months. The last two cases have been on prednisone therapy for 21 and 14 months, respectively. Case 3 is now doing well on prednisone, 7.5–10 mg every other day. Her mental and stato-motoric development has so far been normal. Optic nerve decompression was performed in March 1968, and the eye on which the operation was performed still retains some vision. Case 4 was started on steroids when he was about 3 months older than Case 3. Splenectomy had to be performed due to high prednisone requirements, and he still needs prednisone, 15 mg every other day. He seems, unfortunately, to be blind and slightly retarded. Heparin seems to be of no practical value in this disorder. Cellulose phosphate therapy resulted in impaired calcium absorption. The resulting hypocalcemia seems, however, to have very little, if any, effect on the underlying disease.     

生长抑素对门脉高压病人脾切除手术前后门脉压力的影响

目的 :探讨思他宁对肝硬化门脉高压病人行脾切除手术前后门脉压力的影响。方法 :肝硬化门脉高压脾肿大、脾功能亢进病人 2 5例 ,随机分治疗组 (思他宁组 ) 15例 ,对照组 10例 ,术前 1d及术后第 2天用彩色多普勒测定门脉主干内径、血流速度及血流量。手术中开腹后和术毕关腹前分别经胃网膜右静脉分支测得门静脉压力。治疗组在使用思他宁 5min后测门脉压力一次 (思他宁静脉维持 4 8h) ,记录术中出血量、术后第 1天脾窝引流管引出量。结果 :治疗组 :①使用思他宁前后门脉压力差异有极显著性 (P <0 .0 1)。在思他宁维持过程中 ,行脾切除前后门脉压力差异有显著性 (P <0 .0 5 )。②使用思他宁前后和脾切除术前后门脉内径差异无显著性 ,最大流速及血流量差异有极显著性 (P <0 .0 1)。对照组 :①脾切除前后门脉压力、最大血流量及血液流速差异有显著性 (P <0 .0 5 )。②门脉内径差异无显著性。两组术中出血量 ,术后第 1天腹腔引流管引出量差异有极显著性 (P <0 .0 1)。结论 :周围静脉持续生长抑素维持能降低门脉高压病人脾切除术后的门脉压力 ,降低门脉压力的机制可能是通过降低门脉血流速率从而降低门静脉血流量。术中及术后使用思他宁能明显减少术中及术后创面渗血     

Laparoscopic surgery for splenic disorders

Laparoscopic splenectomy (LS) has recently been gaining acceptance as an alternative to open splenectomy. However, several aspects, such as learning curve, residual splenic function, and management of large spleens, remain controversial. In this paper we present the analysis of technical details and immediate and late outcome of a consecutive series of 64 cases of splenic disorders approached by laparoscopy. Between Feb-1993 and April-1997, 64 patients with a wide range of splenic disorders were treated by laparoscopy, and prospectively recorded. Age, body mass index, operative time, number of trocars, perioperative transfusion, spleen weight, conversion rate, mode of spleen retrieval (bag or accessory incision), postoperative analgesia, stay and morbidity were analyzed. Late failures after LS were reevaluated with ^99mTc-heat-damaged red blood cells scintigraphy and CT. LS was performed in 61 patients, and two cases with splenic cyst and one splenic artery aneurysm received a laparoscopic partial cystectomy and aneurysmectomy. LS was performed through an anterior approach in 12 patients and laterally in 49. Conversion rate was 6.5%. Accessory spleens were found in 7 patients (7/61, 11.5%). Morbidity was 16%. There was no correlation between the weight of the spleen, platelet count or obesity with operative time. A lateral approach was associated with a decrease in operative time (p < 0.002), postoperative stay (p < 0.001), transfusion (p < 0.04) and number of trocars (p < 0.001). Operative time was significantly longer in large spleens (>1000 gr) (p < 0.001). However, there were no differences in transfusion rate, stay, morbidity or conversion rate. After a follow up of 12 m, 10 patients revealed a low platelet count. Scintigraphy showed residual splenic tissue in 3 (ITP). A wide range of splenic disorders can be treated by laparoscopy, including enlarged spleens. This technique should be continually audited, but initial results reflect the approach's safety and advantages provided that great technical care is taken and an exhaustive search for accessory spleens is conducted. Received: 29 January 1997/Accepted: 22 May 1997     

The role of the spleen in endotoxin-induced liver injury

In these experiments, the role of the spleen in endotoxin-induced liver injury was evaluated, using rats which underwent splenectomy or splenic vein ligation with antecedent spleno-systemic shunt. Male Wistar rats were divided into three groups: a sham-operated group, a splenectomy group, and a splenic vein ligation group. In each animal, 48 h after surgery, 5 mg/kg lipopolysaccharide (LPS) were injected intravenously. Six rats from each group were sacrificed 6 or 12 h after LPS administration. Bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF) and arterial blood were also collected. Splenectomy reduced the liver injury as indicated by the serum lactate dehydrogenase level. A decrease in liver tissue adenosine triphosphate and increase in lipid peroxide were induced by LPS administration and inhibited by splenectomy. Splenectomy also reduced alveolar protein release as indicated by the protein level in BALF. Splenic vein ligation provided similar protective effects on the liver, but did not affect lung injury. From these results, it appears that the spleen plays a significant role in endotoxin-induced liver injury, and a mediator derived from the spleen is likely associated with development of liver injury. This mediator may be cleared or inactivated by not only splenectomy but also splenic vein ligation.     

FAILURE OF PNEUMOCOCCAL VACCINATION IN A SPLENECTOMIZED CHILD

ABSTRACT. Recurrent Streptococcus pneumoniae septicaemia occurred in a splenectomized child with idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura. Fatal infection took place 1 year after pneumococcal vaccination and was caused by sero-type 18C which was included in the vaccine. The efficacy of pneumococcal vaccination is discussed in relation to specific pneumococcal polysaccharide antibody titers, and it is concluded that vaccination alone is insufflcient in preventing overwehlming infections in splenectomized Individuals.     

Retrospective evaluation of long-term efficacy and safety of splenectomy in chronic idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura in children

Aim: To review the long-term efficacy and safety of splenectomy in children with chronic idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura (cITP). Patients and methods: Data from 33 splenectomized children were retrospectively analysed (median follow up period: 18.8 y from the removal of the spleen). The median age of children at splenectomy was 12 y and the median ITP duration 3.3 y. Indications for splenectomy were: persistent severe thrombocytopenia with extensive purpura, epistaxis and/or gum bleeds, menorrhagia (n = 5) and severe or recurrent haemorrhage from various sites (n = 11). Results: Eighty-five per cent of the patients showed an excellent (n = 26) or partial response to splenectomy. Five children (15%), all females, failed to respond. Of the responders, 25% experienced a transient recurrence of thrombocytopenia within 6 mo to 4 y from splenectomy. The mortality rate due to severe sepsis was 3%. However, the majority of the splenectomized patients have not so far suffered any severe or mild bacterial infection, despite incomplete vaccination and/or antibiotic prophylaxis.

Conclusion: Splenectomy remains the only effective therapeutic modality for children with cITP, although it is associated with transient recurrence and rarely with post-splenectomy sepsis, which could be fatal. Nonetheless, splenectomy should be the last treatment option for the cITP patient, after all available therapeutic modalities have been exhausted and the child still remains profoundly thrombocytopenic and symptomatic.