The surgeons at North Orlando Surgical Group , have a combined total of 45 years of experience offering surgical services to the community. We pride ourselves on providing the least invasive, innovative surgical techniques in an environment focused on quality care and exemplary customer service. Our physicians have performed thousands of hernia repairs with a very low complication rate. We recognize that surgery is a frightening proposition and we pride ourselves in assuring confidence in our abilities while getting you through the process with caring and compassion.
The spleen is a blood filled organ located in the upper left abdominal cavity. It’s a storage organ for red blood cells and contains many specialized white blood cells called “macrophages” (disease fighting cells) which act to filter blood. The spleen is part of the immune system and also removes old and damaged blood particles from your system. The spleen helps the body identify and kill bacteria.
There are several reasons why a spleen might need to be removed, some of the most common reasons are:
• Auto-immune thrombocytopenia purpura (ITP): This is the most common reason. With this disease, a patient’s platelet count is low because the body makes antibodies to the platelets which cause them to be destroyed in the spleen.
• Hemolytic Anemia: With this disease the body makes antibodies to red blood cells which are destroyed in the spleen. When medical therapy fails, some patients require spleen removal to prevent or decrease the need for transfusion.
• Hereditary Conditions: There are several diseases that affect the shape of red blood cells, such as sickle cell disease or thalassemia. In these patients, the spleen recognizes the red cells as abnormal and may bring them down, possibly requiring splenectomy to improve these symptoms.
• Malignancy: Cancer involving the spleen or certain diseases that affect blood cells would be a reason for a splenectomy. Leukemia, is a blood cancer that affects cells that help the body fight infections. Also, some types of lymphoma, a cancer that affects cells that help the body fight infections.
• Laceration due to trauma: Although protected under the bony ribcage, the spleen remains the most commonly affected organ in blunt injury to the abdomen in all age groups. These injuries are common in both rural and urban environments and result from motor vehicle crashes, domestic violence, sporting events, and accidents involving bicycle handlebars.
Advantages to a laparoscopic splenectomy are:
• Less postoperative pain
• Shorter hospital stay
• Faster return to a regular diet
• Quicker return to normal activities
• Fewer possible incisional hernias.
For this procedure you are placed under a general anesthesia and put completely asleep. A cannula (hollow tube) is placed into the abdomen by your surgeon and your abdomen will be inflated with carbon dioxide gas to create a space to operate. A laparoscope (a tiny telescope connected to a video camera) is put through one of the cannulas which projects a video picture of the internal organs and spleen on a television monitor. Several cannulas are placed in different locations to allow your surgeon to place instruments in your belly to work and remove your spleen. A search for accessory (additional) spleens will be done since about 15% of people have small, extra spleens. Once the procedure is finished and the spleen has been removed, the carbon dioxide is removed from your abdomen and the incisions are closed and bandaged. You will usually stay overnight if done electively.
When choosing a surgeon you should be confident that he or she has the skills necessary to give you the best outcome with the least invasive procedure possible. Our surgeons have these skills and have performed many laparoscopic splenectomies with excellent outcomes, especially in curing ITP. Allow us to provide you the excellent care you deserve!