Single incision laparoscopic partial splenectomy for splenic hemangioma

Laparoscopy is now considered the "gold standard" approach for splenectomy when treating different benign and malignant diseases requiring the removal of the whole or part of the spleen. During the last few months in both experimental and clinical settings, new techniques such as natural orifice transluminal endoscopic surgery (NOTES™) and single incision laparoscopic surgery (SILS) or single port laparoscopic surgery (SPLS) have been attempted in order to reduce even more the surgical trauma in laparo-endoscopic procedures. SPLS allows to perform different surgical procedures using the umbilicus as the only site to access the abdominal cavity and, by using special trocars and instruments, to carry out the operation using the same techniques and principles of standard laparoscopic surgery. The video describes our personal technique for totally single incision partial splenectomy for the treatment of splenic hemangioma. A 44-year-old woman complained with recurrent abdominal pain in the left hypochondrium and flank and was referred to our department. Abdominal US as well as CT-scan images demonstrated the presence of a large cystic-like lesion at the lower pole of the spleen. It presented some septal division with the cyst. Blood tests were normal and all markers were negative. Single incision partial splenectomy was performed with no complications and the patient’s postoperative course was uneventful. WeBSurg.com, Sept 2010;10(09). URL: http://www.websurg.com/doi-vd01en3032.htm