Spleen
Lies on the left
hand side of the abdominal cavity
and is a lymphatic organ.
Functions:
removal
of abnormal blood cells and other
blood components. Storage of iron
from recycled red blood cells. Initiation
of immune responses by B cells and
T cells in response to antigens in
the circulating blood. The spleen
is an organ located in the upper left
portion of the abdomen, behind the
stomach. Its functions are to filter
blood, remove bacteria, make blood,
and store blood.
If your physician
diagnoses any of the following diseases,
you may be a candidate for splenectomy
(removal of the spleen): acute and
chronic leukemia, cysts, primary splenic
thrombocytopenia, idiopathic thrombocytopenic
purpura (ITP), primary splenic neutropenia,
Felty's syndrome, Banti's disease,
congestive splenomegaly, splenic tumors,
splenic artery aneurysms, lymphomas,
thrombolytic thrombocytopenic purpura
(TTP), HIV splenomegaly, splenomegaly,
splenocytosis, or a variety of anemias.
How
is laparoscopic splenectomy performed?
Laparoscopic surgery
uses a thin, telescope-like instrument
called a laparoscope, which is inserted
through a small incision in the flank
(the fleshy part of the side between
the ribs and hip). The laparoscope
is connected to a tiny video camera
(smaller than a dime) which projects
a view of the operative site onto
video monitors located in the operating
room. The abdomen is inflated with
carbon dioxide, a gas, to allow your
surgeon a better view of the operative
area. Two or three additional small
incisions are made near the laparoscope
through which the surgeon inserts
specialized instruments. The surgeon
uses these instruments to remove the
spleen. Following the procedure, the
small incisions are closed with sutures
and covered with surgical tape. After
a few months, they are barely visible.
What are the benefits
of laparoscopic splenectomy?
What can I expect
after surgery?
It is important
to follow your doctor's instructions
after surgery. Although many people
feel better in just a few days, you
may need to take it easy for two to
four weeks.
How safe is laparoscopic
splenectomy?
If performed
by experts in this field, laparoscopic
splenectomy is as safe as "open"
surgery in carefully selected cases.
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