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Splenectomy; Laparoscopic splenectomy; Spleen removal - laparoscopic
Spleen removal (splenectomy) is surgery to remove a diseased or damaged spleen. This organ is in the upper part of your belly, on the left side underneath the rib cage.
The spleen helps your body fight germs and infections. It also helps filter your blood.
The spleen is removed while you are under general anesthesia (asleep and pain-free). Your surgeon may do either an open splenectomy or a laparoscopic splenectomy.
In an open spleen removal:
For laparoscopic spleen removal:
Some conditions that may require spleen removal are:
Beauchamp RD, Holzman MD, Fabian TC, Weinberg JA. The spleen. In: Townsend CM, Beauchamp RD, Evers BM, Mattox KL, eds. Sabiston Textbook of Surgery. 18th ed. Philadelphia, Pa: Saunders Elsevier; 2008:chap 56.
Camitta BM. Hyposplenism, splenic trauma, and splenectomy. In: Kliegman RM, Behrman RE, Jenson HB, Stanton BF, eds. Nelson Textbook of Pediatrics. 18th ed. Philadelphia, Pa: Saunders Elsevier; 2007:chap 487.
Cadili A, de Gara C. Complications of splenectomy. Am J Med. 2008;121(5):371-375.
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