Abstract
Purpose and Methods : Between July 1993 and January 1999, 12 pediatric patients with hereditary spherocytosis were treated laparoscopically and prospectively recorded. While 6 of 12 patients underwent splenectomy (LS) alone, another 6 were treated with concomitant cholecystectomy and splenectomy (LS with LC) because of cholelithiasis. Age, body weight, operative time, estimated blood loss, number of ports required, spleen weight, length of postoperative hospital stay, and morbidity rates were recorded. Results : LS with or without LC were completed in all 12 patients. The operative time for the LS with LC group was longer than that for the LS alone group, but there was no statistically significant difference. There was no significant difference in estimated blood loss, and no peri- or postoperative complications were found in either group. The length of postoperative hospital stay in both groups was also equivalent. Conclusions : We conclude that concomitant laparoscopic cholecystectomy and splenectomy is a safe and reasonable alternative for HS patients with cholelithiasis.
