Laparoscopic splenectomy: current techniques and uses

Over the recent years laparoscopic splenectomy has become the preferred app roach for the treatment of many conditions requiring splenic removal. At fi rst limited to small spleens and to benign hematologic disorders, this proc edure is now used for a variety of indications. Enlarged spleens are possib le to be removed laparoscopically, although this is still a demanding proce dure. Two factors facilitated the technique and contributed to its wide acc eptance: 1) Change in the technique originally used, by positioning the pat ient in right lateral decubitus, and approaching the spleen from a postero- lateral direction. 2) The development of new technologies to dissect and di vide tissues and vessels, including the ultrasonic shears and the laparosco pic linear stapler. In this article we review the current indications for l aparoscopic splenectomy, as well as the techniques to accomplish this proce dure.