Laparoscopic splenectomy using a wall-lifting procedure

A laparoscopic splenectomy using a hanger wall-lifting procedure is herein described. The patient is placed in the right lateral position. The left lo wer chest and left abdominal wall are then lifted by three wires in two dir ections, left laterally and vertical to the abdominal wall. The view of the operative field thus obtained is excellent. The lifting wires and bars do not hinder the movement of the forceps, since the angles of the instruments to approach the spleen are different from those of the wires. A laparoscop ic splenectomy using this wall-lifting procedure avoids the usual complicat ions associated with pneumoperitoneum while still being technically compara ble to a procedure with pneumoperitoneum.