Single-port splenectomy: Current update and controversies

• Published in: Journal of minimal access surgery Vol. 7; no. 1; pp. 61 - 64
• Main Authors: Targarona, Eduardo M, Lima, Maria B, Balague, Carmen, Trias, Manuel
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: India Medknow Publications 01-01-2011; Medknow Publications and Media Pvt. Ltd; Medknow Publications & Media Pvt. Ltd; Wolters Kluwer Medknow Publications
• Subjects: Cysts; Dissection; Endoscopic surgery; Endoscopic surgery, literature review, single-port access, splenectomy, surgical technique; literature review; single-port access; Solid Organ Surgery; Spleen; splenectomy; Surgery; surgical technique; Surgical techniques; Endoscopic surgery; surgical technique; single-port access; literature review; splenectomy
• ISSN: 0972-9941; 1998-3921
• DOI: 10.4103/0972-9941.72383

Multiport laparoscopic splenectomy (LS) is considered the "gold
standard" for the management of surgical diseases in normal or
slightly enlarged spleens. The concept of minimal-invasive surgical
techniques has progressed since the early 1990s from standard multiport
laparoscopy to natural orifice transluminal endoscopic surgery (NOTES)
and, more recently, to single-port access (SPA). In this paper, we
describe our technique for SPA splenectomy and provide a critical
review of the current literature on SPA for splenic
diseases.Preliminary results published to date indicate that the spleen
can be safely removed using single-incision surgery and all the authors
have unanimously endorsed the feasibility of this approach. However,
available evidence is still scarce. It is based only on case reports
and one small series, with a total of 17 patents and, therefore, firm
conclusions cannot yet be drawn and more experience and comparative
trials are needed to determine the exact role of this interesting new
approach.