Surgical resection of traumatic spleen cysts by laparoscopy

Surgical resection of traumatic cysts by means of laparoscopy in two female patients is reported. The patients had sustained severe trauma in the left upper quadrant, were symptomatic and developed large splenic cysts found b y computerized tomography with an average diameter of 8.5 cm, Both patients were submitted to puncture and capsule removal by means of videolaparoscop y and diathermy; splenic parenchyma was preserved and the cyst's bed draine d. No intra or postoperative complications occurred. After an average 21 mo nths postoperative follow-up, both patients are symptom-free and no late re currences were found on tomographic studies. The advantages of this techniq ue over others that have been reported are the preservation of splenic pare nchyma, its easy performance and efficient relief of symptoms, as well as b eing minimally invasive, associated with minimal postoperative pain, shorte r length of hospital stay, and no early recurrences.