Abstract
Splenectomy is indicated for the patients with idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura (ITP) who are nonresponsive to corticosteroids and suffer severe side effects of corticosteroids. The present study included 15 patients who underwent laparoscopic splenectomy for ITP between January 2002 and December 2013. The median operative time was 179 min and the median intraoperative blood loss was 20g. There was no case of conversion to open laparotomy. Gastric perforation was observed in one case (6.7%). The median platelet counts at the time of first visit to our department and at 1 month after surgery were 4.5×104/μl (0.1–32.5×104/μl) and 17.0×104/μl (3.2–50.2×104/μl), indicating a significant increase in the platelet count after splenectomy (p < 0.01). However, two cases (13%) later showed platelet counts of less than 3.0×104/μl and were diagnosed with relapse. Laparoscopic splenectomy for ITP could be safely implemented. All cases showed increased platelet counts 1 month after splenectomy; however, few cases later experienced a decrease in platelet counts, suggesting the need for long-term follow-up.
